6.8 Dedication, Epigraph, Epistle, Letter, Preface, and Prologue

6.8.1 SGML

In general, use the unnumbered TEI <ttdv type=""> or <bkdv type=""> tag for these opening sections of text. The authorship of the section will normally determine whether it is bibliographical or textual in nature. TEI P3 employs floating tags such as <epigraph> (p. 960), <opener> (pp. 1081-82), <prologue> (pp. 1081-82), and <salute> (pp. 1141-42) for these textual divisions.

The dedication of Spenser's Faerie Queene is treated as follows:

<ttdv type="dedication">
<heading>
TO
THE MOST HIGH,
MIGHTIE<f type="r">
And<f type="rl">
MAGNIFICENT
EMPRESSE RENOVV{\-}
MED FOR PIETIE, VER{\-}
TVE, AND ALL GRATIOVS
GOVERNMENT ELIZABETH BY
THE GRACE OF GOD QVEENE
OF ENGLAND FRAVNCE AND
IRELAND AND OF VIRGI{\-}
NIA, DEFENDOVR OF THE
FAITH, &c.</heading>  HER MOST
HVMBLE SERVAVNT
EDMVND SPENSER
DOTH IN ALL HV{\-}
MILITIE DEDI{\-}
CATE, PRE{\-}
SENT 
AND CONSECRATE THESE
HIS LABOVRS TO LIVE
{VV}ITH THE ETERNI{\-}
TIE OF HER
FAME.
</ttdv>

6.8.2 COCOA

In general, use unnumbered <--dv> tags to start and enclose these different kinds of introductory text. See, for example, William Thomas' epistle at the start of his Italian grammar of 1550.

<ttdv epistle>
<tt addressee>
To my verie good
friende Maister Tam\-
woorth.
At Venice.

<tt epistle> 
Accordyng to you re\-
quest, I haue taken in hand
the thyng, that I am ferre
vnable to perform.  But be\-
cause emongst freend}good
will suffiseth,where power
wanteth : albeit I knowe these fewe scribled rules to
...
Take it therefore , and vse it so, that I maie thinke my
paine well bestowed.  For I wisshe to you no woorse
than I would to my selfe.  And thus with moste har\-
tie commendacions I bidde you farewell.
<tt signed>From Padoa the thirde of Februarie.    1548.

Your assured freende
William Thomas.
<ttdv ->
<bkt tableofcontents>

Depending on their size and importance, epistles and prefaces may also be separate divisions of a text.