Printers’ Devices
Printers’ devices were a common design element of early modern books. These woodcuts (which often appeared on title pages of texts) were used as a way of quickly identifying the printer of a work. Typically, they would feature the printers’ sign, initials, or name along with other ornamental decor (which usually had some sort of symbolic resonance with the printer's name or history).
Devices from the 16th and 17th centuries follow a variety of different strategies in their design and subject matter. Popular device designs include images surrounded by a motto (image 1), heraldic coats of arms (image 2), and emblematic groupings of animals and objects (image 3).
Though the utility of printers’ devices relies on their recognizable nature, some printers were known for having multiple devices. Like Joseph Froben--who had numerous devices, one of which can be seen here--Andreae Wecheli’s printers’ device went through a few updates over the years, as you can see from two devices (Image 3) found in UNC HSL Special Collections.
To learn more about printers’ devices, come look at some of these works in person at UNC HSL Special Collections, or head over to Wilson Library Special collections to read their copy of Hugh William Davies’ Devices of the Early Printers....
Image 1: Dioscorides Pedanius. Pedanii Dioscoridis... (1549, located in the UNC HSL Special Collections)
Image 2: Athanasius Kircher. Athanasii Kircheri e Soc. Jesu... (1658, located in the UNC HSL Special Collections)
Image 3: [LEFT] Realdo Columbo. Realdi Columbi ... de re anatomica libri XV. (1572, located in the UNC HSL Special Collections) & [RIGHT] Dioscorides’ Ta sozomena a Ganta (1598, located in the UNC HSL Special collections).
