Moxon, Mechanick exercises, 1683 (S4v)

On what would otherwise be a blank page, this advertisement is for similar how-to books.

Nider, Manuale Confessorum, 1474 ([1]1r)

The beginning of this manual for confessors is marked with an "incipit," a common Latin word used to indicate the beginning of a text.

Nider, Manuale confessorum, 1474 ([3]3r)

Although this book has clearly been read and annotated by a reader, its owner never had the initial letters or rubrication added. You can see on the left an empty square that would hold a hand-drawn initial letter as well as a smaller space further down on the right that would have been rubricated with a capitulum to indicate the start of a new chapter or section.

Patousas, Aesop, 1644 (sig. L4v)

A woodcut illustrating Aesop's fable of the fox and the crow, which in this book is printed to face the illustration (you can see the text here).

Patousas, Aesop, 1644 (sig. L5r)

A modern Greek translation of Aesop's fable of the fox and the crow; there is an accompanying illustration on the facing page

Psalterium, 1499 (c1r)

The text of this Latin book of psalms is surrounded by German commentary, printed in a smaller type on the right column and wrapping under the main text at the bottom of the page. Although it's hard to see on this copy (which shows signs of wear and foxing, or discoloration), both categories of text have been carefully printed in red ink as well as black.

Psalterium, 1499 (o7r)

On the last page of this volume appears the colophon and Erhard Ratdolt's printer's device, here printed in red and black ink.

Psalterium, 1499 (π1r)

This title label uses red ink to call attention to itself, with the second part of the title in a smaller face.

Theobald, Double Falshood, 1728 (A1r)

This half-title page includes the price for the volume printed at the bottom of the page. The full imprint can be found on the full title page on the next leaf.

Theobald, Double Falshood, 1728 (A2r)

Like that of most English playbooks, this title page indicates where the play was first performed as well as its title and author.