Whatever they are - it's a bit silly releasing them to the general public as blank.
As stated above - one could easily stick any number they wished to in there.
It might be considered "Out of series." It might be an unmarked PC copy. It might be an actual numbered/lettered copy that wasn't numbered/lettered.
I have a Bradbury S/L without a number. It came in a special shipping carton. The carton is numbered but the book isn't.
These things happen.
"One day you're going to figure out that everything they taught you was a lie."
On two occasions, from two different small publishers that we deal with often, I had S/L books delivered that were very damaged. The publishers sent replacements that were "blanks" and they told me to enter the number myself. This was some years ago, but I wonder how widespread it is.
I asked brian from Cd about it, and my understanding it that 4 or 5 books didn't make it back from the printer for proper numbering. So CD did not release unnumbered books. I'm not sure what they would be referred to as. As far as numbering it on ones own, that would be pretty low in my opinion. Even if no one else would know, I would.
I've had to number a book myself once. I received a three book matching set but one book wasn't numbered. I contacted the publisher who offered to number it if I sent it back. They went as far as to tell me the exact pen they used if I wanted to do it. They also insisted that they marked down that I had the specific number I requested. I opted to write it myself rather than send it back. You wouldn't be able to tell if you compared them.
My Smoke and Mirrors that I received in a CD grab bag was left blank. I contacted Dan over there about it and he asked me to "PC" it which I had my wife do. My penmanship sucks. It still felt weird but I agree with the "deputized" statement via contact with the publisher.
Whenever I have a new girl over that is into books, I give her one of the many extra In Mint Condition books I have left in my closet, put "BC" (for booty call, which I laugh internally about, heartily), then always sign it the same way on the title page:
Hope you enjoy the book as much as you enjoyed me.
~Shannon
Not joking by the way, lol.
...so that's why In Mint Condition part 2 bombed
Poor Shannon. Started with 200 books 4 years ago, and still has 198...
Monks get more than Shannon.
Nope, I blame it on the fact that I exclusively only get with women who can't read.
Man...Shannon you are just opening yourself up for these - its like lobbing softballs...oh wait maybe thats your problem.
Just checked my IMC. It has BC on it. I need to cut down on the booze.....