Die Bücher-Ornamentik Der Renaissance (Vol II.)

Engravings from “Die Bücher-Ornamentik Der Renaissance” (Book-Ornament of the Renaissance) by A. F. Butsch, Leipzig, 1878. Alfred Butsch was a famous bookseller and a collecter of antiquarian books; the engraved plates in the book reproduce illustrations from early printed books.

I bought my copy of this book from a bookseller in Germany; there is also a fac simile by Dover, but the reproduction is not of the highest quality, so these images are better, if very incomplete.

6. Title Page: Orontii Quadrans Astrolabicus Omnibus

A beautiful engraved Celtic knotwork-style border surrounds this title-page from a 1534 mathematical text-book by Oronce Finé (given here as Orontii Finei), who may also have made the design. Inset into the border are various figures representing astronomy (or astrology), music, geography, arithmetic, Pythagoras, Orpheus (?), Euclid and, at the bottom [...] [more...]

8.—Ornate Renaissance Border (1536)

This ornate early baroque border is from a 1536 title page and features cherubs, shields, medallions, grape vines and pineapples, strange sea-creatures (at the bottom), oak leaves and more. [more...]

8.—Title Page from De Studio Literarum (1536)

Title page from “De Studio Literarum...” published in 1536 in Paris by Jodocus Badius and printed by Michael Vascosanus, illustrated by Orance Finé (or Orance Fine, or Orontius Finæus in Latin). The central woodcut shows a printing office; the twisted perspective is deliberate, and [...]Prelum Ascensianum appear over the press, the name of Baudius’ printing house (Prelum being the Latin word for a printing-press). [more...]

8.—Detail: Printing Page Woodcut

Detail from a title page printed in 1536, depicting the printing office of Jodocus Baudius, the Ascension Press, and three of the people working there. It’s possible one of the figures is Baudius himself. [more...]

68b.—Printer’s Mark Detail: Angel

A trumpeting angel from a woodcut by Jost Amman, a detail from a trade mark for a printer. [more...]

68a.—Myller Book Mark - Lion With Pillar

Die schöne Marke des Strassburger Druckers Crafft Myller vom Jahre 1537 in Holzschnitt von einem unbekannten Meister. (p. 50) [more...]

Jost Ammon’s Printer’s Mark

Unten: Jost Amman’s Marke für Sigmund Feyrabend [Feyerabend] in seiner Gesellschaft mit Weigand Hanund George Rab. Eines der frühesten und geistreichsten Signete des Meisters. In Originalgrösse. (p. 50) [more...]

68b.—Printer’s Mark Detail: Jost Ammon Cherub 1

A cherub from a woodcut by Jost Amman, a detail from a trade mark for a printer. The cherub has a long festoon, wings, and proffers a laurel wreath, signifying victory. [more...]

68b.—Printer’s Mark Detail: Jost Ammon Cherub 2

A cherub from a woodcut by Jost Amman, a detail from a trade mark for a printer. The cherub has a long festoon, wings, and proffers a laurel wreath, signifying victory. [more...]

68b.—Printer’s Mark Detail: feathered eagle

A picture of an eagle from a woodcut by Jost Amman, a detail from a trade mark for a printer. Actually I am not at all sure what sort of bird it is supposed to represent! [more...]

68b.—Printer’s Mark Detail: Cockerel

A picture of a cockerel (a rooster) from a woodcut by Jost Amman, a detail from a trade mark for a printer. [more...]