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.

Holinshed, Chronicles, 1577 (b2v)

As is the case with many large chronicles, the woodcut illustrations here are reused throughout the book.

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.

Thomson, Discourse, 1750 (C4r)

The authorizing citations have moved from being printed in the outer margins on the side of the page to the bottom of the page, a practice we would describe as footnotes.

Vincent, Discouerie, 1622 (4C1r)

A cancel slip has been pasted over the top coat of arms to correct it; in this copy, the slip is slightly askew, making it easy to spot.

Vincent, Discouerie, 1622 (4O2r)

The main text of this page focuses on genealogy, but the bleed-through of the ink on the verso reveals the presence of printed marginalia that has been pasted over (cf sig 4O2v).

Vincent, Discouerie, 1622 (4O2v)

The cancel slip pasted over one of the marginal notes here is nearly invisible in this digital image. But if you look at the recto of this leaf, you can clearly see the ink bleed-through from the covered up note.

Vincent, Discouerie, 1622 (4O3v)

At first glance, this page looks free from error and correction. But on a closer look, you can see that the last line of text has been added after the main text was printed---the last word of the line is printed over the original catchword and the ink is a slightly different color.

Whitney, Choice of emblemes, 1586 (D2v)

Whitney's book of emblems brought the popular European tradition to English readers. The mise-en-page follows the pattern of many of the early editions of Alciati's Emblemata, expanding the original design of emblem, title, and a brief epigraph to include commentary and references.