Analytical

An analytical bibliography deals with the study and detailed description of documents. It examines the physical characteristics of documents, the history of the documents as physical entities. Physical entities here refer to the complete analysis of the structure of the document and its description. It is concerned with the correct transmission of text from the beginning to end of the production. This form of bibliography, thus, tries to give the details of the existing documents especially printed books as physical entities. The history of paper and printing are also to be taken into consideration here.

In other words an analytical bibliography is the kind of bibliography which determines the facts and data concerning a publication by examining the signatures, catchwords, cancels and water marks, and preparing a record in an approved form of results.