Anatomical fugitive sheet (1573)

Anatomical studies of figures with movable flaps, like this one, were often printed as single sheets, and have come to be referred to as "fugitive" sheets since they stand alone outside of a fixed codex. This fugitive sheet shows a female figure with flaps that can be lifted to reveal her organs and skeleton. To see the flaps lifted, follow this shelmark link.

Anatomical fugitive sheet, flap 1 (1573)

In this view, with the top flap lifted up, you can see some of the interior organs, including lungs, heart, stomach, and intestines.

Anatomical fugitive sheet, flap 2 (1573)

With the second flap lifted, we can now see a layer of reproductive organs.

Anatomical fugitive sheet, flap 3 (1573)

With the final flap lifted, the figure's skeleton is revealed.

Balbi, Catholicon, 1460 (1r)

One of the first books to be printed, the 1460 Catholicon continues to be surrounded by uncertainty about exactly who made it and what processes were used. Although it was once assumed that Gutenberg printed the book, that is now doubted. And recent theory is that the book was not printed with individual pieces of movable type, but with cast two-line slugs of type, thus explaining the near exact later impressions printed in 1469 and 1472.

Jacobus, Golden Legend, 1472 (fol. 2r)

The text of this German edition of The Golden Legend of Saints starts off with an equivalent to "incipit": "Hie hebt sich an das Sumer Teil der Heyligen Leben..." ("Here begins the Summer Part of the Holy Lives..."). A hand-colored portrait of Jacobus writing his work follows.

Jacobus, Golden Legend, 1472 (fol. 5r)

The start of the life of Saint Mary of Egypt is marked off by a hand-colored woodcut illustrating her life. Like other books from the earliest years of printing, this does not use many of the printed features that become standard, including headlines, paragraph breaks, signature marks, or catchwords.

Mattioli, Herbarz, 1562 (fol. CXXXVIr)

A hand-colored illustration of a lettuce plant from a Czech translation of Mattioli's herbal.

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.