Catalogue of the Faculty of Advocates, 1742 (K1r)

This was a working catalog for the Advocates' library, and the shelfmarks for the books were added and updated throughout its active life.

Catalogue of the Faculty of Advocates, 1742 (π1r)

The Advocates' Library kept a collection of books (law and otherwise) since the Faculty's inauguration in 1689. This series was the third such catalog of books in the library, and as can be seen in the interior pages, was used to record not only the acquisition of books, but their changing shelfmarks.

Cato, Moral distichs, 1735 (A1r)

Although it's placed where one might expect a printer's device, the design on this title page is a combination of printer's flowers, rather than a device intended to identify the printer.

Cato, Moral distichs, 1735 (A1v-A2r)

On the blank page shown here, you can see the raised letters from the impression of the type used for the title page.

Caxton, Aesop, 1484 (fol. 38r)

This version of Aesop’s Fables is the first ever to have been printed in English. Caxton translated from Julien Macho's 1482 French edition and replicated Jehan Rousset's woodcuts from that edition as well.

Collaert, Nova Reperta, 1600 (pl. 19)

In this depiction of copper engraving, you can see the full range of activities involved in printing an engraving. In the background a sheet of copper is being flattened and prepared for engraving; in the lower right, boys are being taught how to use a burin to draw on a plate; in the middle men are inking and preparing a plate for printing; on the left, a man is turning the wheel of a rolling press to print a plate; and in the background, finished prints are being hung to dry.

Collaert, Nova Reperta, 1600 (pl. 4)

In this illustration from the series The Inventions of Modern Times, you can see the full range of activities associated with common-press printing, from delivering blank paper to proofreading printed sheets.

Colloques ou dialogues, 1616 (A1r)

The title page for this multi-lingual phrasebook repeats the title three times, once in each of the languages predominant in Antwerp.

Colloques ou dialogues, 1616 (A4v-A5r)

The odd shape of this book (little and oblong) comes from its contents (seven columns of dialogues in different languages) and its use (a pocket-sized volume for travelers).

Comenius, Orbis, 1685 (O1v-O2r)

This opening from a popular Latin textbook uses different typefaces to set apart the English and Latin phrases and to call attention to the vocabulary words that are illustrated on the facing page.