Today, 04.25.09

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These are wonderful. Thanks for the inspiration.

Bruce Black's site DOES have a great collection.
Thanks!

Thanks for the great colophon showcase Eric.
@javierjrdg

Oh man, these images seriously made my day. thx.

Aldus Manutius was not a type designer but a publisher. His designs, including the famous italic were mostly done by Francesco Griffo. Nevertheless, nice collection!

I had never consciously noticed printers' marks before, but this collection has opened my eyes. Wonderful stuff

Really enjoyed this week's collection. Much prefer the Today's images when they're themed/grouped like this.

The origin of Aldus' printer's mark is Erasmus' oxymoronic proverb, "Hasten slowly." The dolphin would be the fast part, while the anchor symbolizes moderation.

This column is a wonderful resource. Thank you.

Thanks for posting your collection of printer's symbols (sometimes called devices). The Aldine dolphin reappears in the devices of scores of printers — my personal favorite is the tiny one nestled inside the elaborate Victorian title page of "The Book of Common Prayer" by William Pickering and Charles Whittingham the Younger, Chiswick Press, 1853. If you like you can see it here,
Nancy Stock-allen
04.29.09 at 09:18

These are fantastic.

I recently had the pleasure of going through the thousands of not-yet-scanned antique book plates at the Library of Congress. The collection, all in hundreds of little boxes each containing about a hundred different bookplates, included some with notes explaining the personal history or symbology of the images. Like a printers mark just for oneself.

I'd love to learn more about printers marks and appreciate you sharing what you know and where to find them.