Nostradamus, An almanach, 1562 (fol. 1v)

Although this almanac is for the year 1562, a user has added notes for a number of later years, including 1581 and 1589, as see here on the blank verso of the title page.

Nostradamus, An almanach, 1562 (fol. 2r)

Unlike later almanacs, this continues one month on after another, rather than giving each month its own page or opening. If you look at the top right page, you'll see the start of January, which continues onto the bottom right page.

Nostradamus, An almanach, 1562 (fol. 2v)

One of the benefits of looking at this unopened sheet is seeing how the use of red ink calls attention to specific dates and moon phases as well as serving to differentiate sections of the text. Our use now of the phrase "red-letter day" comes from the practice of using red ink to indicate festivals, a practice that originated in manuscripts.

Ogilby, Aesop, 1668 (pg. 47)

Ogilby's version of Aesop's Fables uses the margins for extensive annotations.

Ogilby, Aesop, 1668 (pg. 48)

The blank space on this page decisively separates the fable and its moral.

Ogilby, Aesop, 1668 (pl. 18)

Some previous owner has colored in the illustration corresponding to the fable of the Hound and his Master. Perhaps this story was a favorite––no other print in the book was treated to full color.

Ogilby, Aesop, 1668 (plate 18 verso)

The blank verso of the leaf of a hand-colored intaglio print shows where some of the inks have bleed through.

Pepusch, Solos for violin, 1705 (p. 1)

In this collection, the music is printed with copper plates in an oblong format---making for clear lines of the two staffs of music.

Philipott, Aesop, 1666 (sig. 2Q2r)

This bilingual edition privileges the Latin text with the majority of page space, but presents the English version in rhyming verse. Along with the intricate engraving, the different modes may have made this book appealing to people of varying levels of schooling.

Rowe, Laura, 1775 (A1v)

This ad selling letterpress printing to the public appears on the back of a title page; the book lacks an imprint statement, and the shop location given here allows researchers to suggest a time-frame for the book's publication.