Dove, A new almanack, 1631 (A2v-A3r)

This almanac shows a typical combination of information: dates of the month, the dominical number, saints days and other festivals, the positions of various astrological features, and space for the user to write their own notes. But this almanac is atypical in that it survived---huge numbers of almanacs were printed, particularly in the 17th century, but most were discarded at the end of the year and lost to posterity.

Dowland, Second booke of songs, 1600 (A2r)

Dowland's dedicatory letter to the Countess of Bedford follows a layout that mirrors manuscript letters; note that his signature is set in a lowly and humble position at the bottom of the page.

Dowland, Songes, 1597 (L1r)

This page of music was printed so that four musicians could stand around a table sharing the book. The music itself was printed from tiny pieces of metal type, each with the 5 bars of the staff and a note; lined up in a series, the pieces of type formed a series of musical notes.

Dowland, Songes, 1597 (π1r)

A woodcut title page for John Dowland's collection of songs.

Dowland, Songes, 1597 (π2r)

The dedication begins with a large, historiated initial "T", a woodcut depicting a sailboat.

Encyclopédie plates, 1769 (vol 7, pl 14)

An illustration of a pressroom: on the left the paper is being placed on the tympan while the type is being inked; on the right a separate press is being pulled while the beater works the ink in the background. At the bottom of the page is a top-down view of the press showing how a quarto imposition looks on the press stone and how it is inked on the paper held on the tympan.

Encyclopédie, Plates, 1769 (vol 7, pl 1)

An illustration of compositors working along with detailed pictures of pieces of type.

Encylopédie plates, 1769 (vol 7 pl 15)

This side view of the common press is particularly useful for showing how the frisket folds down over the paper on the tympan, which then folds down over the imposed forme for printing. The pressman (standing facing us) would then roll the forme under the platen (barely visible hanging between the upright cheeks) and then reach across to pull the lever to lower the platen, creating the pressure to transfer the ink from the type to the paper.

Erasmus, Novum Instrumentum, 1516 (3a1r)

The lengthy title provides the primary decorative element of this page. It's also notable that Froben's printer's device is used in place of his name in the imprint, rather than in addition to it.

Erasmus, Novum Instrumentum, 1516 (A1r)

Erasmus's translation of the Bible from Greek into Latin is appropriately presented in two parallel columns. Here, the initial page of his New Testament is set off with woodcut borders; the following pages are plain columns of text.