Eyn new kunstlichboich, page 25v 1529

This is page 25v from ‘Eyn new kunstlich boich,’ made around 1530 by Peter Quentel, and it’s essentially a manual for creating lettering. The letters were printed using movable type, a relatively new technology at the time. Each letter was individually cast in metal, arranged to form words, inked, and then pressed onto the paper. This process allowed for the mass production of texts, but still required a high degree of skill and precision. Look closely, and you can see the texture of the paper and the slight variations in the ink, testaments to the hand-operated press. These aren’t just letters, they are the result of significant labor and technical expertise, part of the revolution in communication that was reshaping early modern Europe. Quentel's lettering book reminds us that even the most functional of designs are the product of specific materials, processes, and social contexts.