Posted by Robert Hill on December 14, 2000 at 13:29:49 from 129.11.159.105:
In Reply to: Re: S&A dedication posted by Robert Thompson on December 14, 2000 at 01:18:22:
Robert Thompson writes:
"My Kerins edition has 31 33 35 37 39 40 38 36 34 32,
therefore is a 31st edition. Don't ask me why!"
It is of course common for a book to contain a row of numbers with one
number removed at each successive printing, but usually the numbers are in
simple decreasing order. I've never seen them arranged like this, with the
biggest in the middle - or if I have, I've failed to notice it. But I can
hazard a guess as to why it's been done.
Am I right in guessing that the row of numbers is centred in the page,
not justified to the left margin?
By arranging that the smallest numbers are alternately at the left and
right ends of the list, the printer has ensured that, when numbers are
removed, the list remains more or less centred.