Block Book - Texts

Texts

A 1991 census of surviving copies of block books identifies 43 different "titles" (some of which may include different texts). However, a small number of texts were very popular and together account for the great majority of surviving copies of block books. These texts were reprinted many times, often using new woodcuts copying the earlier versions. It is generally accepted that the Apocalypse was the earliest block book, one edition of which Allan H. Stevenson dates to c. 1450–52. The following is a partial list of texts, with some links to digitized on line copies:

  • Apocalypse, containing scenes and text from the Apocalypse and the apocryphal life of St. John.
  • Netherlands, 1465-70, Bavarian State Library.
  • Germany, 1468-70, Bavarian State Library.
  • Germany, 1468-70, Bavarian State Library.
  • Ars Memorandi per figuras evangelistarum, an anonymous work with mnemonic images of events in the Four Gospels.
  • Southern Germany (?), after 1470?, Bavarian State Library.
  • Southern Germany (?), after 1470?, Bavarian State Library.
  • Southern Germany (?), possibly Nuremberg or Schwaben, c. 1470-75, Bavarian State Library.
  • Ars Moriendi, the "Art of Dying", offering advice on the protocols and procedures of a good death. The first edition of this work has been called "the great masterpiece of the Netherlandish blockbooks."
  • Netherlands, c. 1465, Library of Congress.
  • South German, possibly Ulm, c. 1475, Bavarian State Library
  • Biblia Pauperum or "Bible of the Poor", a comparison of Old and New Testament stories with images, "probably intended for the poor (or lesser) clergy rather than for the poor layman (or the unlearned)."
  • Netherlands or Niederrhein, 1460-65, Schweinfurt, Bibliothek Otto Schäfer.
  • Netherlands, 1460-63, Schweinfurt, Bibliothek Otto Schäfer.
  • Nuremberg, 1472, Bavarian State Library.
  • Canticum Canticorum or Song of Songs.
  • Germany, c. 1469-70, Bavarian State Library.
  • Germany, c. 1469-70, Bavarian State Library.
  • Aelius Donatus Ars minor, a popular text of the parts of speech and the only exclusively textual work to be printed as a block book.
  • Rheinland (?), before 1475?, Bavarian State Library
  • Exercitium Super Pater Noster, containing woodcuts and text interpreting the Lord's Prayer.
  • Speculum Humanae Salvationis or "Mirror of Man's Salvation". Only one pure block book edition was printed; other editions have the text printed by metal type, but printed on only one side of the paper.
  • Netherlands, c. 1468-79, Bavarian State Library.
  • Dance of Death, depicting dancing skeletons appearing before their victims from various classes, trades and professions, was the subject of a few block books, the most famous of which is at Heidelberg University.
  • South Germany(?), 1465-60(?), Bavarian State Library.
  • The Fable of the Sick Lion.
  • Other works
  • In addition to the above texts, block books include some calendars and almanacs.

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