main printed feature: movable parts

Early books often included movable parts, such as volvelles with paper discs that could be rotated to make calculations, flaps that could be lifted to reveal anatomical parts, and illustrations that could pop up to convey three dimensional objects.

Anatomical fugitive sheet (1573)

Anatomical studies of figures with movable flaps, like this one, were often printed as single sheets, and have come to be referred to as "fugitive" sheets since they stand alone outside of a fixed codex. This fugitive sheet shows a female figure with flaps that can be lifted to reveal her organs and skeleton. To see the flaps lifted, follow this shelmark link.

Anatomical fugitive sheet, flap 1 (1573)

In this view, with the top flap lifted up, you can see some of the interior organs, including lungs, heart, stomach, and intestines.

Anatomical fugitive sheet, flap 2 (1573)

With the second flap lifted, we can now see a layer of reproductive organs.

Anatomical fugitive sheet, flap 3 (1573)

With the final flap lifted, the figure's skeleton is revealed.

Apian, Cosmographicus, 1524 (C4v)

With this 4-part movable diagram from Apian’s Cosmographicus, the user can practice a series of complicated calculations, including latitude, the times of sunrise and sunset, the duration of dawn and dusk, and the height of the sun.

Apian, Cosmographicus, 1524 (H4r)

In the center of this complicated volvelle, you can see the thread used to attach the moving parts to the page; in this picture you can see the other side of this leaf and thread.

Apian, Cosmographicus, 1524 (H4v)

In this middle of this page, and obscuring some text, is the string and paper securing the discs of the volvelle on the other side of this leaf.