Leaf from a 12th century manuscript fragment, transcribed on vellum by hand. 11--? This leaf was transcribed by hand sometime in the 12th century. It is notable for its use of medium red ink decorated initials. Also contains musical notation. It has been cut along all four borders. Record includes links to an English translation along with Diplomatic and Normalized editions. Complete record & associated images » Leaf from a 12th century Moralia in Job, transcribed on vellum by hand. Gregory I, Pope, ca. 540-604. 1150-1200. This leaf from the Bible was transcribed by hand sometime in the 12th century. It is notable for its multi-colored ink decorated initial, along with other ink flourishes. Complete record & associated images » Leaf from a fifteenth century gold illuminated French Book of hours. Catholic Church. 14--?. Books of Hours are chiefly private, devotional books and are so named because they contain the prayers appropriate to the canonical hours of the day: Hours of the Blessed Virgin, Hours of the Holy Cross, etc...This leaf is particularly notable for its use of gold illumination. Record includes links to an English translation along with Diplomatic and Normalized editions. Complete record & associated images » Leaf from a fifteenth century illuminated French missal Catholic Church. ca. 14--?. The Missal is the Mass-book from which the services were read. This leaf shows an interesting arrangement of text with musical notations. It is written on vellum in liturgical black letter, decorated with a large flourished multicolor initial, along with several red and blue colored pen work initials. Complete record & associated images » Leaf from a fifteenth century illuminated Italian missal. Catholic Church. 14--? The monks who produced this work labored to produce a work of lasting beauty. The large illuminted initial on the reverse of this leaf is of special interest, as is illuminated with silver instead of gold. The silver has tarnished somewhat in the course of five centuries. Complete record & associated images » Leaf from a handwritten fifteenth century History of Rome / by Livy. Livy. ca. 1436? This leaf on vellum is in the semi-cursive character of the Carolingian handwritting--the model for the italic types to follow. Record includes links to an English translation along with a Diplomatic and Normalized editions. Complete record & associated images » Leaf from the Catholicon / by Johannes Balbus. Balbi, Giovanni, d. 1298. Gutenberg, Johann, d 1397?-1468. 1460. The Catholicon is a Latin dictionary, which was arranged in 1286 by Johannes Balbus and used in the late Middle Ages to interpret the Bible "correctly". Complete record & associated images » Leaf from the Books of memorable deeds and utterances / by Valerius Maximus. Valerius Maximus. Schöffer, Peter,ca. 1475-1547. ca. 1471? This leaf is significant as it was produced by the printer, Peter Schoeffer. Schoeffer has the distinction of printing the first book, the Bible of 1462. The typeface used in this leaf is the same as that bible. Complete record & associated images » Leaf from the Postillae in Biblia / by Nicholas de Lyra. Nicholas, of Lyra, ca. 1270-1349. Sweynheim, Konrad, d. 1477. Pannartz, Arnold, d. ca. 1478. 1472. The Postillae in Biblia was the first printed biblical commentary. It was studied throughout the Medieval period and during the Renaissance. Conrad Swynheim and Arnold Pannartz were German printers who worked in Gutenberg’s shop in Mainz and ultimately relocated to Italy. Record includes links to an English translation along with Diplomatic and Normalized editions. Complete record & associated images » Leaf from the Natural history / by Pliny ; Nicolas Jenson, printer. Pliny, the Elder. Jenson, Nicolas, ca. 1420-1480. 1476. Nicolas Jenson (1420-1480) was Master of the French royal mint. He was sent by Charles VII in 1458 to Germany to learn to be a printer. When Charles VII died in 1461, Jenson moved to Venice where he established his printing business. He was noted for his use of Roman type, which was modelled on the hand favored by the Renaissance humanists who emphasized the study of ancient Latin texts. Complete record & associated images » Leaf from a German Old Testament Bible, chiefly comprising of lines from Leviticus, Chapter 27. Koberger, Anton, ca. 1440-1513. 1483. This appears to be a leaf from one of Anton Koberger's bibles, and is notable for the woodcut depicting the "Tent of Meeting before Mount Sinai."in which tradition holds that Leviticus is the word of Yahweh, as dictated to Moses. Note the horns on Moses. Complete record & associated images » Leaf from a fifteenth century French Book of hours printed by Thielman Kerver. Catholic Church. 1505. Vostre, Simon, fl. 1488-1520. This leaf shows the wonderful ability of the early French printers on the difficult medium of vellum. The borders contain several small woodcuts of Biblical subjects. It is also printed both in black and red letters with hand illuminated capital letters. Complete record & associated images » Leaf from a Nuremberg Chronicle. Koberger, Anton, ca. 1440-1513. 1493. This is the great picture book of the 15th Century as it contains no less than 1,809 woodcuts. Record includes links to an English translation along with Diplomatic and Normalized editions. Complete record & associated images » Leaf from a 1497 Nuremberg Bible / Anton Koberger, printer. Koberger, Anton, ca. 1440-1513. 1497. This leaf printed on vellum represents one of fifteen Latin bibles printed by this publisher between 1475 and 1500 C.E. It is also notable for the four ink hand-filled capitals, along with other ink flourishes. Record includes links to an English translation along with Diplomatic and Normalized editions. Complete record & associated images » Leaf from a sixteenth century French Book of hours. Catholic Church. 15--? Verard, Antoine, d. ca. 1513, Printer. This leaf printed on vellum contains Latin in the main body of the page, with French in the borders. The wood cut figures in the border illustrate the story of the Holy Family. The miniature Holy Mother and Child have been hand painted by the illuminator to further embellish this leaf. Complete record & associated images » Leaf from the third book of the Georgics. Virgil. 1502. The Georgics were written by Virgil in praise of the farming life. The third book discusses the breeding of horses and cattle, and is shown in this leaf by a contemporary hand colored woodcut illuminating the text. Record includes links to an English translation along with Diplomatic and Normalized editions. Complete record & associated images » Leaf from the Aldine Greek Bible, comprising of lines from the Gospel of John, Chapter 5 / Aldus Manutius, printer. Manuzio, Aldo, 1449 or 50-1515. 1518. The leading publisher and printer of the Venetian High Renaissance, Aldus Manutius set up a definite scheme of book design, produced the first italic type, introduced small and handy pocket editions (octavos) of the classics, and applied several innovations in binding technique and design. The so-called Aldine Bible, was printed posthumously. The New Testament portion is a reprint of Erasmus' first edition. Complete record & associated images » Leaf from the Natural history / by Pliny. Pliny,the Elder. Froben, Johann, d. 1527. 1525. This leaf is from the first edition of 'Pliny' which was edited by the great scholar Erasmus. It is printed by Froben, one of the most important printers of his time. Complete record & associated images » Leaf from The metamorphoses / by Ovid. Ovid, d 43 B.C.-17 or 18 A.D. Rusconi, Elisabetta, d fl. 1526-1527. 1527. This leaf is significant for its printer, Elisabeth de Rusconibus, who took over her husband's printshop after his death. Also note the woodcut, which shows the usual custom of having the character indicated by a letter or name inside the frame of the picture. Record includes links to an English translation along with Diplomatic and Normalized editions. Complete record & associated images » Leaf from the Great Bible, comprising of lines from the Book of Ezra, Chapters 9 and 10. Whitchurch, Edward, d. 1561. 1549. The Great Bible was the first authorized edition of the Bible in English, authorized by King Henry VIII of England to be read aloud in the church services of the Church of England. The Great Bible was prepared by Myles Coverdale, working under commission of Sir Thomas Cromwell. Complete record & associated images » Leaf from Book 2 of On the fabric of the human body / by Andreas Vesalius. Vesalius, Andreas, 1514-1564. Oporinus, Joannes, 1507-1568. 1555. De humani corporis fabrica libri septem is a textbook written by Andreas Vesalius in 1543. It presents a careful examination of the organs and the complete structure of the human body. The illustrations are of great artistic merit and are generally attributed by modern scholars to the "studio of Titian". Complete record & associated images » Leaf from the Lives of illustrious men / by Paolo Giovio. Giovio, Paolo, 1483-1552. 1577. Paolo Giovio (also spelled Paulo Jovio) was an Italian physician, historian and biographer, and prelate. He is best remembered as a chronicler of the Italian Wars. His eyewitness accounts of many of the battles form one of the most significant primary sources for the period. Record includes links to an English translation along with Diplomatic and Normalized editions. Complete record & associated images » Leaf from a 1601 Bible, comprising of the first 42 lines from John, Chapter 7. Barker, Robert, d. 1645. 1601. This leaf is notable for its use of parallel text. The "Bishop's Version" is in italics and the "Reims' Version" is in roman script. Together, this is an attempt to reflect the arguments and accusations contained in the New Testament by the English Romanist, who were now refugees of Queen Elizabeth's reign at Reims. Complete record & associated images » Leaf from The advancement of learning / by Francis Bacon. Bacon, Francis, 1561-1626. 1638. Francis Bacon was one of the foremost scientist of his day and is considered by many to be the earlisest thinker to grasp the implication of the scientific method. Although a thousand copies of these very early books were printed, only a few have survived. Record includes links to an English translation along with Diplomatic and Normalized editions. Complete record & associated images » Leaf from Heads of Illustrious Persons of Great Britain, comprising of an engraving of George Villiers, 1st Duke of Buckingham / Jacobus Houbraken, engraver. Houbraken, Jacobus, 1698-1780. 1740. This copper engraving is of George Villiers, Duke of Buckingham. Sir George Villiers, 1st Duke of Buckingham (28 August 1592 – 23 August 1628) was the favourite, claimed by some to be the lover, of King James I of England. Despite a very patchy political and military record he remained at the height of royal favour for the first two years of the reign of Charles I, until he was assassinated. He was one of the most rewarded royal courtiers in all history The engraver, Jacobus Houbraken, is one of the most accomplished portrait engravers of the eighteenth century. Complete record & associated images » Leaf from Heads of Illustrious Persons of Great Britain, comprising of an engraving of Francis Russel, the 2nd Earl of Bedford / Jacobus Houbraken, engraver. Houbraken, Jacobus, 1698-1780. 1740. This copper engraving is of Francis Russell, 2nd Earl of Bedford (c. 1527 – 28 July 1585). He was an English nobleman, soldier and politician. The engraver, Jacobus Houbraken, is one of the most accomplished portrait engravers of the eighteenth century. Complete record & associated images » Leaf from Heads of Illustrious Persons of Great Britain, comprising of an engraving of Thomas Sackville, Earl of Dorset / Jacobus Houbraken, engraver. Houbraken, Jacobus, 1698-1780. 1740. This copper engraving is of Thomas Sackville, Earl of Dorset. He was an English statesman, poet, dramatist and Freemason. He was the son of Richard Sackville, a cousin to Anne Boleyn. The engraver, Jacobus Houbraken, is one of the most accomplished portrait engravers of the eighteenth century. Complete record & associated images » Leaf from the Baskerville Birmingham Bible, comprising of lines from the Psalms / John Baskerville, printer. Baskerville, John, 1706-1775. 1769. John Baskerville set up his printing house in 1775. His editions of the Latin classics, John Milton's poems (1758), and a folio Bible (1763) are characterized by clear and careful presswork rather than ornament; they are among the finest examples of the art of printing. He served as printer to Cambridge University (1758 – 68), and he created the widely used Baskerville typeface, which is still used and prized for its clarity and balance Complete record & associated images » Leaf from Thompson's Bible, comprising of lines from the Acts of the Apostles, Chapter XVIL, verses 9-32 / Jane Aitken, printer. Aitken, Jane, 1764-1832. 1808. Jane Aitken (1764-1832) was one of the first American female printers and the first woman to print any part of the Bible in America. She was also a bookseller, bookbinder, businesswoman, and employer during the early nineteenth century, a time when the independence of women was actively discouraged. Charles Thomson (1729-1824) made the first English translation of the New Testament published in America and the first translation of the Septuagint into the English language. Complete record & associated images » Leaf from Sidonia the sorceress / by Wilhelm Meinhold ; translated by Francesca Speranza, Lady Wilde. Meinhold, Wilhelm, 1797-1851. Morris, William, 1834-1896. Wilde, Lady, 1826-1896. 1893. Sidonia von Borcke was a Pomeranian noble woman executed for witchcraft in 1620. In posthumous legends, she was depicted as femme fatale and entered English literature as Sidonia the Sorceress. Complete record & associated images » Leaf from Paradise Regained / by John Milton. Milton, John, 1608-1674. Cobden-Sanderson, T. J.(Thomas James), 1840-1922. 1905. The Doves Press was established in 1900 by T.J. Cobden-Sanderson and quickly established itself as producing beautiful editions. Particularly notable is the special font used by Cobden-Sanderson. Complete record & associated images »