H.M.S.S. - B What does it mean?

I'm reading a book I found on my bookshelf. I don't know where it came from... probably something my younger brother picked up many years ago. It looks virtually un-read.


It's called "H.M.S. Saracen" by Douglas Reeman, from 1965. My paperback was printed in 1974.


Anyway, at the bottom of some of the right-hand pages it says "H.M.S.S - B", or " H.M.S.S - C".


The last letter seems to be increasing as I read the book, although I can't find "H.M.S.S. - A" anyplace. I first thought it was some kind of footnote.



I assume "H.M.S.S" is shorthand for the title of the book. I just don't know why it is sprinkled randomly throughout the book, or what the last letter stands for.

It was printed in England, if that helps anyway.


Is this common practice? Anybody know anything about it?

Not sure, but it's something like that...maybe Her or His Majesty's Service.

The name of the ship begins with an "S", too.

I just don't know a)why it's on the bottom of right-sided pages, or b) what the -B is for.


Incidentally, I just passed "H.M.S.S - E" in the book. :shrug:

James Bond.....

:-)

...the set of pages cut from a single folded large sheet -- that are then bound together to make up the book.

They don't need to be on every page, just what will become the first page of each signature.

Chances are the A signature is the front matter -- title, copyright page, Schmutztitel -- and could be identifed at a glance, while any 16 or 32 pages from the body all look the same.

I just read another book by him called "The Destroyers" and it had the same pattern: "T.D. - B", etc.


Much thanks.