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main printed feature: signature mark

Signature marks were used by printers to denote gatherings and leaves of a text so that they knew that the work was being printed and bound in the correct order. We typically use signature marks as a way of locating where something is in a book (e.g. “sig. B4v” indicates the verso side of the 4th leaf of the B gathering). But the style of a signature mark can also indicate where the book was printed.

The Moderate, 1648 (recto)

This issue of an English newsbook has remained uncut and so shows us its quarto imposition as the pages would have been laid out when printed.

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.

Vincent, Discouerie, 1622 (¶2r)

The author's letter to the subject of his critique is set off with a headpiece and an initial letter. Atpically for English books, the prefatory material is signed with a pilcrow (¶).

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).

Webster, White Devil, 1631 (F3r)

The blank space at the top of the page, interrupting the headline and the middle of the first seven lines of text, was probably caused by a scrap of paper accidentally getting between the inked type and the blank paper.

Wroth, Urania, 1621 (2o2r)

The start of a new book within this text is marked off with a display typeface providing the title an initial letter.

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Browse by going through all the images or all the tags, or by following the main tags below. To learn more about what the various features mean, click on the tag and read the description at the top of the page.

main printed features

  • advertisement
  • blank
  • book making
  • colophon
  • correction
  • error
  • form
  • frontispiece
  • imprimatur
  • index
  • initial letter
  • intaglio
  • movable parts
  • music
  • press figure
  • printed marginalia
  • printer's device
  • printer's ornament
  • privilege
  • register
  • signature mark
  • subscribers list
  • title page
  • two-color printing
  • woodcut

date published

  • 1450-1499
  • 1500-1549
  • 1550-1599
  • 1600-1649
  • 1650-1699
  • 1700-1749
  • 1750-1800

place printed

  • Belgium
  • Czech Republic
  • England
  • France
  • Germany
  • Italy
  • Mexico
  • Netherlands
  • Peru
  • Poland
  • Russia
  • Scotland
  • Spain
  • Switzerland
  • Ukraine
  • United States
Sarah Werner. "main printed feature: signature mark." Early Printed Books. https://www.earlyprintedbooks.com/feature/signature-mark/. Version 20190427.
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