unpaged

Unpaged is a bibliographic term used to describe a publication that has no visible pagination, or a record indicating that pagination is absent. In library catalogs and bibliographic descriptions, an item described as unpaged usually has its extent marked as “unpaged” or “unpaginated” in the 300 field or equivalent. This signals that the work lacks numbered pages, leaves, or other fixed pagination, though it may still contain leaves or sheets.

Items commonly described as unpaged include pamphlets, broadsides, maps, charts, posters, loose sheets, single-sheet programs, and some early manuscripts or ephemera. Some contemporary digital items also appear as unpaged when page numbers are not shown or when pagination is not applicable.

Citing unpaged works requires adapting standard citation rules. Since no page numbers are available, readers are directed to other locators such as chapter or section headings, paragraph numbers, or itemized descriptions provided within the work or metadata. In bibliographic databases, the note “unpaged” helps distinguish such items from paginated ones.

In practice, unpaged descriptions can complicate precise location and quotation, particularly for scholarly use. Digital formats may offer alternative locators (for example, fixed locations or percentages) where page numbers would otherwise appear. While unpaged does not imply any particular quality or content type, it often reflects format, production method, or historical printing practices that avoided page numbering.