Remarkable Renaissance Books
A celebration of innovation in the Renaissance age told through 18 of its earliest printed books.

Remarkable Renaissance Books tells the story of eighteen extraordinary early printed volumes, from the very first titles printed in the fifteenth century to the groundbreaking scientific texts of the Enlightenment. John Boardley revisits works including Gutenberg’s  Bible, a mathematical book illustrated by Leonardo da Vinci, Galileo’s observations of the Moon’s mountains, Kepler’s treatise on a supernova, Robert Hooke’s discovery of microscopic honeycomb structures he coined “cells,” and Maria Sibylla Merian’s pioneering studies of metamorphosis.

These beautiful books and their enthralling histories, prehistories, and legacies chart the fascinating stories of readers, writers, printers, scientists, philosophers, and artists and the part they played in forging the modern world. In addition to highlighting their production and reception, Boardley traces each book’s journey into print, painting a vivid and enthralling picture of remarkable books authored by prodigious minds.

This lavishly illustrated volume brings the early print culture of the Renaissance to life and will appeal to lovers of books and history alike.

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Remarkable Renaissance Books
A celebration of innovation in the Renaissance age told through 18 of its earliest printed books.

Remarkable Renaissance Books tells the story of eighteen extraordinary early printed volumes, from the very first titles printed in the fifteenth century to the groundbreaking scientific texts of the Enlightenment. John Boardley revisits works including Gutenberg’s  Bible, a mathematical book illustrated by Leonardo da Vinci, Galileo’s observations of the Moon’s mountains, Kepler’s treatise on a supernova, Robert Hooke’s discovery of microscopic honeycomb structures he coined “cells,” and Maria Sibylla Merian’s pioneering studies of metamorphosis.

These beautiful books and their enthralling histories, prehistories, and legacies chart the fascinating stories of readers, writers, printers, scientists, philosophers, and artists and the part they played in forging the modern world. In addition to highlighting their production and reception, Boardley traces each book’s journey into print, painting a vivid and enthralling picture of remarkable books authored by prodigious minds.

This lavishly illustrated volume brings the early print culture of the Renaissance to life and will appeal to lovers of books and history alike.

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Remarkable Renaissance Books

Remarkable Renaissance Books

by John Boardley
Remarkable Renaissance Books

Remarkable Renaissance Books

by John Boardley

Hardcover

$75.00 
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    Available for Pre-Order. This item will be released on December 15, 2025

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Overview

A celebration of innovation in the Renaissance age told through 18 of its earliest printed books.

Remarkable Renaissance Books tells the story of eighteen extraordinary early printed volumes, from the very first titles printed in the fifteenth century to the groundbreaking scientific texts of the Enlightenment. John Boardley revisits works including Gutenberg’s  Bible, a mathematical book illustrated by Leonardo da Vinci, Galileo’s observations of the Moon’s mountains, Kepler’s treatise on a supernova, Robert Hooke’s discovery of microscopic honeycomb structures he coined “cells,” and Maria Sibylla Merian’s pioneering studies of metamorphosis.

These beautiful books and their enthralling histories, prehistories, and legacies chart the fascinating stories of readers, writers, printers, scientists, philosophers, and artists and the part they played in forging the modern world. In addition to highlighting their production and reception, Boardley traces each book’s journey into print, painting a vivid and enthralling picture of remarkable books authored by prodigious minds.

This lavishly illustrated volume brings the early print culture of the Renaissance to life and will appeal to lovers of books and history alike.


Product Details

ISBN-13: 9781851245482
Publisher: Bodleian Library, University of Oxford
Publication date: 12/15/2025
Pages: 288
Product dimensions: 9.33(w) x 10.20(h) x (d)

About the Author

John Boardley is an author, book lover, and avid reader. Born in England, he now calls Saigon home. His previous books include Typographic Firsts, also published by Bodleian Library Publishing.

Table of Contents

INTRODUCTION More Than Books
1 FROM PILGRIMS TO PRINT Gutenberg Bible, c.1454
2 ILLUMINATING PLINY Historia naturale, 1476
3 HISTORY IN YOUR HANDS Nuremberg Chronicle, 1493
4 LUCA AND LEONARDO De divina proportione, 1509
5 CATAPULTS AND CORNICES De architectura, 1521
6 A WEDDING AND FOUR FUNERALS Book of Hours, 1525
7 NORTHERN RENAISSANCE On Measurement, 1538
8 PAPER COSMOS Astronomicum Caesareum, 1540
9 THE WALKING DEAD De humani corporis fabrica, 1543
10 UNICORNS AND THE SAUSAGE SUPPER AFFAIR Historia animalium, 1551–58
11 RENAISSANCE INVENTION Nova reperta, c.1588
12 YOU ARE HERE Atlas sive cosmographicae, 1595
13 A STAR IS BORN De stella nova, 1606
14 FORGING HEAVEN Sidereus nuncius, 1610
15 THE BOOK ON THE MOON King James Bible, 1611
16 OUT OF EDEN Hortus Eystettensis, 1613
17 OF MITES AND MEN Micrographia, 1665
18 METAMORPHOSIS Metamorphosis insectorum Surinamensium, 1719
EPILOGUE: Bacon’s Ark and Wittgenstein’s Glasses
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