Publishers use a variety of methods to identify volumes within a given series. This post explains how to format series identifiers in bibliographic entries.
1. Series with Volume Numbers
Many publishers today assign volume numbers to volumes in a series. When a volume has an assigned series volume number, it is appropriate to include the identifier in the bibliographic citation.
Johnson, Sara R., Rubén R. Dupertuis, and Christine Shea, eds. 2018. Reading and Teaching Ancient Fiction: Jewish, Christian, and Greco-Roman Narratives. WGRWSup 11. Atlanta: SBL Press.
Note that the series volume number immediately follows the series abbreviation, with no intervening comma. The volume number should be an arabic numeral, regardless of the publisher’s preference. The abbreviations vol. and no. are omitted.
2. Series without Volume Numbers
Some publishers do not assign volume numbers to volumes in a series. In such cases, include only the series title or abbreviation.
Salters, R. B. 2010. Lamentations. ICC. London: T&T Clark.
3. Series with Volume Numbers + Section Identifiers
Multivolume sets in a series often include a section or part identifier after the series volume number. If the section or part identifier is a letter, place the letter immediately after the series volume number, with no intervening space or punctuation.
Aune, David E. 1998. Revelation 17–22. WBC 52C. Nashville: Nelson.
If the section or part identifier is a number, place it after the series volume number, separated by a period.
Seebass, Horst. 1993. Numeri. BKAT 4.1. Neukirchen-Vluyn: Neukirchener Verlag.
Cite the entire multivolume set as follows:
Aune, David E. 1997–1998. Revelation. 3 vols. WBC 52A–C. Nashville: Nelson.
Seebass, Horst. 1993–2007. Numeri. 3 vols. BKAT 4.1–3. Neukirchen-Vluyn: Neukirchener Verlag.
SBL Handbook of Style 
[…] series volume identifiers can be problematic when a series begins anew or is divided into distinct concurrent sections. In […]
LikeLike
Does this same procedure apply for journals that publish more than one series? For example should the “Old Series,” “New Series,” and “Third Series” of the journal Forum (Westar) be differentiated by a “1/” “2/” or “3/” preceding the volume number?
LikeLike
The use of 1/, 2/, and 3/ is acceptable for journals that have more than two series. However, it is more common to see no indication given for the first/old series and NS used with the second series when only two are involved.
LikeLike
In the case of Aune’s Revelation above, what is the recommendation for a short citation in a footnote? Either: Aune, Revelation 1-11, 589. Or: Aune, Revelation, 1:589.
LikeLike
There is no single correct answer to this. If you cite only the first volume of Aune’s WBC commentary in your work, then Aune, Revelation 1-5, 589 is acceptable. If, however, you have reason to cite the entire three-volume work, then the second option is preferred: Aune, Revelation, 1:589.
LikeLiked by 1 person