A Bibliographical Introduction to the Hand-Press Period (Online)

Course Description

Paying attention to the physical characteristics of texts is broadly useful for studying any printed works of the Western hand-press period (roughly 1450-1800). But how does one start to think bibliographically, noticing such characteristics and knowing what questions they might lead to? In this seminar, we will strengthen these skills by looking at books together (albeit through a document camera) and considering what questions the material aspects of printed texts can help us ask about the circumstances of their creation, their potential uses and meanings, and their passage through time to us today. The course will be organized around specific materialities—including paper, type, format, and bindings—so students can learn skills to identify key characteristics and recognize situations in which such knowledge is useful. Because this is an online course, we will also pay special attention to digital facsimiles and other digital tools that can help us explore (or sometimes hinder our study of) bibliographical features. Our three-hour meetings will allow us to combine active class discussion with group work and bibliographical exercises.

Participants are not expected to have previous experience studying early printed texts; the design of this course is intended to prepare for more advanced bibliographical study rather than assuming a baseline to work from. The course will also not be able to provide direct, hands-on experiences with books, so students are encouraged to plan to spend time with rare materials at a local library or archives. (If you have no access to suitable materials where you are, please let Dr. Werner know so we can try to make alternative arrangements.)

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Advance Reading List

Recommended Reading

• Sarah Werner, Studying Early Printed Books 1450–1800: A Practical Guide.
  • This should be readily available in most university libraries; if you have a hard time finding a copy to borrow, please let us know.

We will also be frequently referencing the following, and participants are encouraged to procure copies to consult; other course readings will be provided as needed:

• Philip Gaskell, A New Introduction to Bibliography. (Cambridge University Press, 1972).
• John Carter’s ABC for Book Collectors, ed. Nicolas Barker and Simran Thadani, 9th edition (1952; Oak Knoll Press, 2016).
  • Any semi-recent edition will be helpful; ILAB hosts an open PDF of the 8th edition (2004): https://ilab.org/assets/documents/articles/documentation_center_files_29_2_20abc_20forbookcollectors_20bob_20fleck.pdf.

 

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Course Evaluations

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Course History