main printed feature: printed marginalia

Notes printed in the margin were common throughout the hand-press period. Sometimes such notes were references to other works, sometimes they were brief commentary on the text. Longer commentary on a text was usually printed in the margins, but wrapping around the main text in a style we rarely use today.

Alciati, Emblemata, 1589 (Z5r)

Here we again see the emblem for Alciati's "In astrologos" again with Alciati's Latin text and an illustration of Icarus falling from the heavens. This edition also supplies lengthy commentary from Claude Mignault, also reproduced here.

Alciati, Emblemata, 1589 (Z5v)

This dense block of text is only the first page of commentary accompanying Alciati's emblem of "In astrologos," a sharp contrast to the spareness of the first edition.

Alciati, Emblemata, 1589 (Z6r)

The mise-en-page is cramped in this book---the main text extends right up to the headline, rather than leaving an empty line or two between them.

Alciati, Emblemata, 1661 (2E1r)

This is the first of five full pages of commentary on Alciati's emblem "In astrologus"---a marked expansion from its first appearance in print in 1531.

Alciati, Emblemata, 1661, (2D8v)

In the 1621, a printer in Padua published an edition of the Emblemata that included commentary from a handful of writers---Claude Mignault, Francisco Sanchez de las Brozas, Laurentius Pignorius, and Federicus Morellus---as well as additional emblems. This 1661 edition is a page-for-page reprint of the earlier Tozzi edition, attesting to the volume's popularity.

Bible, Church Slavic, 1581 (fol. 1r)

The opening of Genesis is marked off with an elaborate woodcut headpiece, clearly separating the text of the Bible from the prefatory materials.

Bible, English, 1611 (A1r)

The King James Bible uses a complex typography to signal which words or phrases are not from the source material but have been added in translation (those in roman type), printed notes in roman type for cross referencing between different books, printed notes in italic for translation notes, and headnotes for each chapter providing summaries to help with quick navigation.

Bijns, Refereyn, 1611 (A4v-A5r)

In this densely printed opening, you can see printed marginal notes used as references to the Bible.

Boethius, Consolatione, 1497 (d1r)

Boethius's De consolatione philosophiae, a popular medieval text, was often circulated with commentary. Here, Boethius's text is printed in a larger size, with the commentary surrounding it.

Hobart, Reports, 1724 (K4v)

There's a lot going on here: reports of Judge Hobart's cases, printed marginal notes referring to other cases, different typefaces, running titles in the headlines noting the cases discussed on each page, and a press figure at the very bottom.