What is the *real* title of that book?

I've seen several books which have different titles...

-On the binding.
-On second page or so.
-On the copyright page.

(All three are different, but use similar words.)

Then when searching for that book on the internet, book dealers may use any
of the three titles for the book.

For example an old book I have...

Binding: Popular Antiquities

Second Page: Observations on Popular Antiquities

Copyright page: Observations on Popular Antiquities Chiefly Illustrating
the origin of our Vulgar Customs, Ceremonies, and Supersitions

So what is the "Real" title?

Billy Bob wrote:

I've seen several books which have different titles...

-On the binding.
-On second page or so.
-On the copyright page.

(All three are different, but use similar words.)

Then when searching for that book on the internet, book dealers may use any
of the three titles for the book.

For example an old book I have...

Binding: Popular Antiquities

Second Page: Observations on Popular Antiquities

Copyright page: Observations on Popular Antiquities Chiefly Illustrating
the origin of our Vulgar Customs, Ceremonies, and Supersitions

So what is the "Real" title?

I'd say the functional ( as opposed to 'real' ) title of THAT particular
book is 'Popular Antiquities' - as those are the only words found in all
three titles, as well as being the words on the cover.

Officer in Charge of The Bleeding Obvious mode

--

Swimming in the rivers of light.

Billy Bob wrote:

I've seen several books which have different titles...

-On the binding.
-On second page or so.
-On the copyright page.
[snip]

So what is the "Real" title?
_________________________________

Where the title on the cover differs from that on the title page, it is
the title page that counts. The same goes for half-titles. Where there
is any discrepancy, librarian cataloguers will enter the details as
given on the title page.

The title page gives the full title of a work. This may sometimes
divide into a main title and a subtitle.If a title is given on the
copyright page it will normally be the title as found on the title
page, but if there is a subtitle on the title page that will probably
be dropped on the copyright page.

John
http://rarebooksinjapan.com

wrote:

Where the title on the cover differs from that on the title page, it is
the title page that counts. The same goes for half-titles. Where there
is any discrepancy, librarian cataloguers will enter the details as
given on the title page.

The title page gives the full title of a work. This may sometimes
divide into a main title and a subtitle.If a title is given on the
copyright page it will normally be the title as found on the title
page, but if there is a subtitle on the title page that will probably
be dropped on the copyright page.

John
http://rarebooksinjapan.com

I have seen a couple of paperbacks which were bound with a title
entirely different from the title page.

David Ames

Interesting. I OTOH own several hardcovers that should have been bound with a
title entirely different from the title page, but weren't. For example, I think
"The Scarlet Letter" would have been better if it had been titled "Whore."

But then the guy who did that movie wouldn't have been able to
title it "Whore!" He would have had to call it "F-ing A!"