Printer's Devices

Flying bird and nesting bird device, a woodcut from Prælectiones in duodecim libros codicis justiniani imp, published in Antverpi by Joannis Baptist Verdussen, & Joannem Baptisam Verdussen and in Amstelodami by Henricum Wetsteniumin 1695.

Flying bird and nesting bird device, a copper engraving from Biblia Sacra, printed in Antverpiae by Joannem BaptistamVerdussen in 1740.

Christogram device with privilege, a copper engraving from Exercicio de perfecion i virtudes cristianas / por el Padre Alonso Rodriguez. printed in Sevilla by Matias Clavijo in 1615.

Hand of God device, a copper engraving from Platonis Omnia opera, printed in Basileae by Henrichvm Petri around 1556.

Hand of God device, a copper engraving from Christophori Clavii Bamberg. ex Societate Iesv, In sphâeram / Ioannis de Sacro Bosco commentarivs, printed in Lvgdvni by P. Rigavd in 1618.

Parrot device, a copper engraving from De Profanis et Sacris Veteribus Ritibus Opus Tripartitum, published in Francofurti et Hannoverae by T.H. Hauensteinnii in 1681.

Men with broken sceptre device, a woodcut from Ratio conscribendarum Epistolaru[m] in unoquoque genere, printed in Parisiis by Lud. Grandinum in 1545.

Dolphin and Anchor device, a woodcut from Amorum libri II, published in Venitiis by the Aldine Press in 1518.

Two-tailed mermaid device, a woodcut from La sfera del mondo di Alessandro Piccolomini, printed in Venitia by Giovanni Barisco in 1566.

Fleur de lys device, a woodcut from Biblia Sacra, published in Venitiis by Ivuntas in 1625.

Hand of God with a Compass device, copper engraving from Historia natvrae, published in Antverpiae by Balthasaris Moreti in 1635.

Hands of God device, a woodcut from Commentarius in Prophetas minores XII, printed in Amstelredami by H. Laurentii in 1627.

Who among us can avoid judging a book by its cover, at least a little? At the time these books were printed, they were sold unbound, so it was the title page that made the first impression. The title page was often the grandest page in the book, and printers made sure to put their unique marks on them. They could be serious or humorous, straightforward or allegorical. Long-lived printing houses would make changes over time to keep their marks fashionable.