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Theodore Parker collection
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Abraham Ortelius: One of the first and greatest of the Dutch map makers, his "Theatrum Orbis Terrarum" of 1570 is generally considered the first modern Atlas - For this work, large copper plates were engraved, and from time to time alterations were made in these plates as various editions were issued, even as late as 1693 long after Ortelius' death

These maps are exceedingly decorative, and careful examination of any one of them will disclose curious little figures, scenes or other decoration. The specimen herewith, is one of these original engravings, with nice old coloring.

Boccaccio: The Fall of Princess, Princesses and other Nobles - Translated into Englysshe by John Lydgate, monke of Bury and printed in London by Richard Pynson, black letter

"Richard Pynson, a Norman, who probably learned his trade in Rouen...takes rank as the best printer in England of the fifteenth century. His first dated book appeared in 1492...he was appointed Printer to the King in 1508 and continued in that office until 1529." John Clyde Oswald: A History of Printing

Jost Amman: Born at Zurich, later moved to Nuremberg, where he died in 1591 and was a well known wood engraver - Among his best subjects are these woodcuts of scenes from Roman History, from Fronsperger's Kriegsbuch, printed at Frankfort, 1571-1573, by Freyrabend, the celebrated bookseller

The Woodcut example herewith, has been clipped from a copy of this book, and colored by hand. The coloring is rather interesting, but may be of a later period.

Petrarch: Trostspiegel: A German translation of Petrarch's prose treatise "De Remediis", printed at Frankfort by Christian Egenolff

The Woodcuts in this volume are among the most famous work of Hans Weiditz, of the Augsburg school. In fact, Weiditz has frequently been called "Der Petrarcameister" or "The Master of the Trostspiegel". The blocks actually were cut by 1520, but were not published until 1532; they later came into Egenolff's hands, and the leaf herewith, is from his edition of 1572.

The Bishop's Bible, printed at London by Richard Jugge - Two leaves herewith

There were two Editions of this Black Letter Bible, that of 1568, and that of 1572. It was an attempt of English ecclesiastics to replace the Geneva (or "Breeches") version of Miles Coverdale, of whose popularity they were jealous. The Ornate Woodcut Initials, some showing scenes from the Classics, were originally intended for an edition of Ovid, and they caused such a storm of criticism that they were never again used for the Bible. It is sometimes called the "Leda Bible", the Woodcut of Leda and the Swan, at the opening of Hebrews; also the "Treacle Bible" because in Jeremiah VIII. 22, this word is used for "balm". See: A Edward Newton: The Greatest Book in the World. Pp. 24-25.