Aaron T. Pratt
@aarontpratt.bsky.social
Pforzheimer Curator of Early Books & Manuscripts at the Harry Ransom Center. Bibliographer, book historian, and VHS guy.
Here's the label:
![Biblia latina (Mainz: Johann Gutenberg and Johann Fust, between 1454 and 1456). 603 verso and 604 recto
Today, we expect the text in most books to be black. To navigate pages, we rely on variations in typography and layout: display fonts, centered text, indents, and other creative uses of white space. These design elements signal chapter, paragraph, and other content divisions. When Gutenberg and his team were developing their new printing technology, though, color often did this work. Aware of readers’ expectations, they developed a two-pass process for including red text alongside black but quickly judged it too time-consuming. After only five pages with red print, they began leaving blank spaces for customers to fill in later, by hand.
For initial capitals, chapter numbers, and running headers, the scribes who helped turn Gutenberg’s black-and-white sheets of print into readable pages needed to be reasonably familiar with the Bible and fluent in Latin. In the leftmost column, for instance, the scribe had to know that “dmone” calls for an “A” in front. Admone illos. Admonish them. Perhaps unsurprisingly, mistakes with initials were not uncommon. Here, the red “P” beginning “Philemoni” appears on top of a blue “T.” A scribe had originally written the letter that begins “Thytum” in the preface to Titus, which is on the previous page.
Gutenberg’s team did try, at least, to eliminate guesswork when it came to the longer text marking transitions between books and prefaces: they printed all of it in an eight-page guide that survives today in only two copies. If followed, each space would be perfectly filled. The Carthusians who first owned the Ransom Center’s Bible, though, frequently misjudged what to write, suggesting that they didn’t have the guide at hand. Here are the four pieces of transitional text that should appear in this opening: [image showing the lines as they appear in the guide].](https://cdn.bsky.app/img/feed_thumbnail/plain/did:plc:ixfqdtqfdxcgymc3665hjnvu/bafkreidul3exsd5bduxgpcrmmpardbpijupcst6fcfwwx46hjynpck2jl4@jpeg)
September 9, 2025 at 3:51 PM
Here's the label:
Here are the two pages on display from our cover-to-cover digital facsimile:
603v: hrc.contentdm.oclc.org/digital/coll...
604r: hrc.contentdm.oclc.org/digital/coll...
603v: hrc.contentdm.oclc.org/digital/coll...
604r: hrc.contentdm.oclc.org/digital/coll...
September 9, 2025 at 3:50 PM
Here are the two pages on display from our cover-to-cover digital facsimile:
603v: hrc.contentdm.oclc.org/digital/coll...
604r: hrc.contentdm.oclc.org/digital/coll...
603v: hrc.contentdm.oclc.org/digital/coll...
604r: hrc.contentdm.oclc.org/digital/coll...
New Gutenberg Bible opening @ransomcenter.bsky.social. Partytime excellent.
September 9, 2025 at 12:13 PM
New Gutenberg Bible opening @ransomcenter.bsky.social. Partytime excellent.
Can’t escape DesBib:
August 14, 2025 at 6:24 PM
Can’t escape DesBib:
Here’s what appears to be a nail/brad head in the @ransomcenter.bsky.social’s lone Catholicon leaf, from the Galliziani impression (or, if you insist, issue):
August 11, 2025 at 3:10 PM
Here’s what appears to be a nail/brad head in the @ransomcenter.bsky.social’s lone Catholicon leaf, from the Galliziani impression (or, if you insist, issue):
Format woes action shot (eventually figured it out):
August 9, 2025 at 10:55 PM
Format woes action shot (eventually figured it out):
The print-run of my 2025 @calrbs.bsky.social Descriptive Bibliography syllabus is done, with all copies stab-stitched and ready to go.
The variants are even crazier than they were last year. How many issues of the edition are there? Variants? What’s an ideal copy? What the hell is the format?
The variants are even crazier than they were last year. How many issues of the edition are there? Variants? What’s an ideal copy? What the hell is the format?
July 25, 2025 at 4:55 PM
The print-run of my 2025 @calrbs.bsky.social Descriptive Bibliography syllabus is done, with all copies stab-stitched and ready to go.
The variants are even crazier than they were last year. How many issues of the edition are there? Variants? What’s an ideal copy? What the hell is the format?
The variants are even crazier than they were last year. How many issues of the edition are there? Variants? What’s an ideal copy? What the hell is the format?
Sorta awake (since 3:00), which is both a win and a loss. Beginning my plane, train, and automobile trip to New Haven for RBMS (and, most importantly, some quality Beinecke time). Hope to see some of you there.
June 23, 2025 at 11:04 AM
Sorta awake (since 3:00), which is both a win and a loss. Beginning my plane, train, and automobile trip to New Haven for RBMS (and, most importantly, some quality Beinecke time). Hope to see some of you there.
Just changed the opening in the Gutenberg Bible @ransomcenter.bsky.social.
Here’s a detail from one of the pages on display. It shows a scrape-and-replace correction to 1 Chronicles (1 Paralipomenon) 1:21.
An error, the printed text read, “et de ela ebal.” A scribe got it to “et decla ebal.”
Here’s a detail from one of the pages on display. It shows a scrape-and-replace correction to 1 Chronicles (1 Paralipomenon) 1:21.
An error, the printed text read, “et de ela ebal.” A scribe got it to “et decla ebal.”
June 14, 2025 at 6:08 PM
Just changed the opening in the Gutenberg Bible @ransomcenter.bsky.social.
Here’s a detail from one of the pages on display. It shows a scrape-and-replace correction to 1 Chronicles (1 Paralipomenon) 1:21.
An error, the printed text read, “et de ela ebal.” A scribe got it to “et decla ebal.”
Here’s a detail from one of the pages on display. It shows a scrape-and-replace correction to 1 Chronicles (1 Paralipomenon) 1:21.
An error, the printed text read, “et de ela ebal.” A scribe got it to “et decla ebal.”
Been thinkin’ about Egyptian obelisks in Rome. #allegyptallthetime
June 2, 2025 at 9:44 PM
Been thinkin’ about Egyptian obelisks in Rome. #allegyptallthetime
If you missed my sniffly @nvshakespeare.bsky.social talk on author attribution in early English playbooks—both print and manuscript!—last month, a recording is available online:
newvariorumshakespeare.org/news/
You can find it by scrolling down to the April 2, 2025 news item about my visit.
newvariorumshakespeare.org/news/
You can find it by scrolling down to the April 2, 2025 news item about my visit.
May 14, 2025 at 8:26 PM
If you missed my sniffly @nvshakespeare.bsky.social talk on author attribution in early English playbooks—both print and manuscript!—last month, a recording is available online:
newvariorumshakespeare.org/news/
You can find it by scrolling down to the April 2, 2025 news item about my visit.
newvariorumshakespeare.org/news/
You can find it by scrolling down to the April 2, 2025 news item about my visit.
The verso of the title-page carries the 1704-dated bookplate of Philip Sidney, the 4th Earl of Leicester (1676–1705).
The book was, however, more likely added to the Penshurst library by the 2nd Earl, Robert Sidney (1595–1677).
It appears to be listed in the 1665 MS catalog of the library.
The book was, however, more likely added to the Penshurst library by the 2nd Earl, Robert Sidney (1595–1677).
It appears to be listed in the 1665 MS catalog of the library.
May 9, 2025 at 8:20 PM
The verso of the title-page carries the 1704-dated bookplate of Philip Sidney, the 4th Earl of Leicester (1676–1705).
The book was, however, more likely added to the Penshurst library by the 2nd Earl, Robert Sidney (1595–1677).
It appears to be listed in the 1665 MS catalog of the library.
The book was, however, more likely added to the Penshurst library by the 2nd Earl, Robert Sidney (1595–1677).
It appears to be listed in the 1665 MS catalog of the library.
This otherwise unremarkable—and kinda shabby—copy of the Thomas Browne’s Pseudodoxia Epidemica w/ Religio Medici, Hydriotaphia, and The Garden of Cyrus (1659) happens to be the one formerly at Penshurst, home of the Sidneys.
May 9, 2025 at 8:11 PM
This otherwise unremarkable—and kinda shabby—copy of the Thomas Browne’s Pseudodoxia Epidemica w/ Religio Medici, Hydriotaphia, and The Garden of Cyrus (1659) happens to be the one formerly at Penshurst, home of the Sidneys.
I'm also more than a little obsessed with the panel paintings—mummy masks—we'll be borrowing from the Manchester Museum. And the wooden palette and pen case.
There'll be much to bask in from @ransomcenter.bsky.social, too. Will post more once I'm on the other side of some meetings.
There'll be much to bask in from @ransomcenter.bsky.social, too. Will post more once I'm on the other side of some meetings.
May 8, 2025 at 11:40 AM
I'm also more than a little obsessed with the panel paintings—mummy masks—we'll be borrowing from the Manchester Museum. And the wooden palette and pen case.
There'll be much to bask in from @ransomcenter.bsky.social, too. Will post more once I'm on the other side of some meetings.
There'll be much to bask in from @ransomcenter.bsky.social, too. Will post more once I'm on the other side of some meetings.
I can't even emphasize how wild this exhibition will be. What is likely the oldest surviving fragment of the Christian Gospels will join a Greek transition of Deuteronomy, schoolhouse fragments of Homer's Odyssey, marriage contracts, and—a fav of mine—a dialog between Plato & an Egyptian priest.
May 8, 2025 at 11:33 AM
I can't even emphasize how wild this exhibition will be. What is likely the oldest surviving fragment of the Christian Gospels will join a Greek transition of Deuteronomy, schoolhouse fragments of Homer's Odyssey, marriage contracts, and—a fav of mine—a dialog between Plato & an Egyptian priest.
This German broadside from 1605—by Heinrich Ulrich— illustrates the papal conclave that elected Camillo Borghese that May. He became Pope Paul V.
(@ransomcenter.bsky.social Popular Imagery Collection 285)
(@ransomcenter.bsky.social Popular Imagery Collection 285)
May 7, 2025 at 10:57 PM
This German broadside from 1605—by Heinrich Ulrich— illustrates the papal conclave that elected Camillo Borghese that May. He became Pope Paul V.
(@ransomcenter.bsky.social Popular Imagery Collection 285)
(@ransomcenter.bsky.social Popular Imagery Collection 285)
Snagged another Berlemont edition that was printed in the dumbest format. If you know, you know.
April 4, 2025 at 8:42 PM
Snagged another Berlemont edition that was printed in the dumbest format. If you know, you know.
Reading a particularly apposite Civil War sermon this morning, Stephen Marshall’s Meroz Cursed (1642).
Taking Judges 5:23 as his text—Curse ye Meroz!—Marshall rebukes those who stand by and tolerate the King’s tyranny,
those who refuse to stand up in defense of the good.
Was preached > 60 times.
Taking Judges 5:23 as his text—Curse ye Meroz!—Marshall rebukes those who stand by and tolerate the King’s tyranny,
those who refuse to stand up in defense of the good.
Was preached > 60 times.
March 29, 2025 at 2:14 PM
Reading a particularly apposite Civil War sermon this morning, Stephen Marshall’s Meroz Cursed (1642).
Taking Judges 5:23 as his text—Curse ye Meroz!—Marshall rebukes those who stand by and tolerate the King’s tyranny,
those who refuse to stand up in defense of the good.
Was preached > 60 times.
Taking Judges 5:23 as his text—Curse ye Meroz!—Marshall rebukes those who stand by and tolerate the King’s tyranny,
those who refuse to stand up in defense of the good.
Was preached > 60 times.
Can’t wait to read this paperback novel about witchcraft in 16th-century Scotland—Jay Williams, The Witches—that I just picked up. Hope it’s sufficiently ridiculous.
March 28, 2025 at 1:19 PM
Can’t wait to read this paperback novel about witchcraft in 16th-century Scotland—Jay Williams, The Witches—that I just picked up. Hope it’s sufficiently ridiculous.
JUST IN: the make-your-own hornbook coasters we designed for the @ransomcenter.bsky.social's newest exhibition, Words and Wonder: Rediscovering Children's Literature.
March 25, 2025 at 5:26 PM
JUST IN: the make-your-own hornbook coasters we designed for the @ransomcenter.bsky.social's newest exhibition, Words and Wonder: Rediscovering Children's Literature.
Too funny—I actually have the two @ransomcenter.bsky.social copies on my desk right now to help get to the bottom of the bibliographical weirdness of Andreas’s title-page.
March 25, 2025 at 1:50 PM
Too funny—I actually have the two @ransomcenter.bsky.social copies on my desk right now to help get to the bottom of the bibliographical weirdness of Andreas’s title-page.
I may or may not have survived the RSA-SAA combomeal.
March 24, 2025 at 3:28 PM
I may or may not have survived the RSA-SAA combomeal.
Just finished up the PowerPoint for my wacky contribution to the "Renaissance Boston" roundtable at the Renaissance Society of America this week.
In about five minutes, I'll talk about the problem—and solution—of finding "Board in Boston" for bookmaking in the 17th century.
In about five minutes, I'll talk about the problem—and solution—of finding "Board in Boston" for bookmaking in the 17th century.
March 19, 2025 at 2:48 PM
Just finished up the PowerPoint for my wacky contribution to the "Renaissance Boston" roundtable at the Renaissance Society of America this week.
In about five minutes, I'll talk about the problem—and solution—of finding "Board in Boston" for bookmaking in the 17th century.
In about five minutes, I'll talk about the problem—and solution—of finding "Board in Boston" for bookmaking in the 17th century.
New ‘Berg opening on display @ransomcenter.bsky.social.
This time we’re deep in Psalms, with a label about the paper used to print the Bible edition.
If you look closely between the columns on the right, you can see the leaf’s ring-stem grape watermark.
This time we’re deep in Psalms, with a label about the paper used to print the Bible edition.
If you look closely between the columns on the right, you can see the leaf’s ring-stem grape watermark.
February 16, 2025 at 4:43 PM
New ‘Berg opening on display @ransomcenter.bsky.social.
This time we’re deep in Psalms, with a label about the paper used to print the Bible edition.
If you look closely between the columns on the right, you can see the leaf’s ring-stem grape watermark.
This time we’re deep in Psalms, with a label about the paper used to print the Bible edition.
If you look closely between the columns on the right, you can see the leaf’s ring-stem grape watermark.
The only taste of my contributions to @ransomcenter.bsky.social’s newest exhibition on this rack card is a hornbook woodcut from our copy of the Margarita philosophica (1504), but there’s some wild—and, if I say so, damn good—early stuff. You won’t want to miss it.
February 14, 2025 at 2:57 PM
The only taste of my contributions to @ransomcenter.bsky.social’s newest exhibition on this rack card is a hornbook woodcut from our copy of the Margarita philosophica (1504), but there’s some wild—and, if I say so, damn good—early stuff. You won’t want to miss it.