Letters as prefatory material

Abstract

Encoding letters which serve as prefatory material

letter prefatory material front matter dedication
div ded letter

Encoding Instructions (new P5 version)

For letters which are serving another structural purpose (such as prefaces or dedications), the WWP uses <div type="[whatever the thing is. e.g. prefatory]">, with the appropriate letter components such as <salute>, <p>, <closer>, etc. nested inside without an enclosing <div type="letter">. In other words, the letter’s structural function within the larger text overrides its function as a letter.

Examples

Example 1. <div type="dedication">
          <opener><salute>My dear Lord
          Raineigh,</salute></opener> <p>May I be
          permitted....to dedicate these truly dreadful poems to your Grace?</p>
          <closer><salute>Your most obsequious, most troublesome, and
          most tenacious servant, </salute>
          <signed><persName>Anna
          Cloudeigh</persName></signed>
          <dateline>Candlerot,
          Surrey</dateline></closer></div>