Anonymous work

Definition and stakes

Charles C. Jewett,  On the Construction of Catalogues of Libraries and Their Publication by Means of Separate…

“ XXIX. Anonymous works are to be entered under the first word of the title, not an article or preposition. Cross-references may be made from all words, in the title, under which such a work would be likely to be sought for, in an alphabetical catalogue.
But if the author have published any edition, continuation, or supplement under his name, the work is not to be considered anonymous.
Exception 1. An anonymous biography or personal narrative is to be entered under the name of the person, whose life or adventures form the subject of the book, if the name appears upon the title-page.
”
Source: Gutenberg

Various,  The Strand Magazine (1891)

“ And if their work lives after them, nobody knows what that work is. They belong to the vast army of the Anonymous. Poor Anonymous! They do all the work. They grow our corn and breed our sheep; they make and mend for us; they build up our lives for us. We never know them, nor thank them, nor think of them. All over the world, they work for their far-off brethren; and when one dies, we know not, because another takes his place. ”
Source: Wikisource

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