Remarkable Renaissance Books tells the story of eighteen extraordinary early printed volumes, from the very first titles printed in the fifteenth century to the ground-breaking scientific texts of the Enlightenment.

Including Gutenberg’s watershed Bible, a maths book illustrated by Leonardo da Vinci, Galileo’s observations of mountains on the Moon, Kepler’s treatise on a supernova, Robert Hooke’s discovery of microscopic honeycomb structures he coined cells, and Maria Sibylla Merian’s pioneering studies of metamorphosis, these beautiful books and their enthralling histories, prehistories and legacies chart the fascinating stories of readers, writers, printers, scientists, philosophers and artists, and the part they played in forging the modern world. In addition to highlighting their production and reception, the author traces each book’s journey into print, painting a vivid and enthralling picture of remarkable books authored by prodigious minds. This lavishly illustrated volume brings the early print culture of the Renaissance to life and will appeal to lovers of books and history alike.

JOHN BOARDLEY is an author, book lover and avid reader. Born in England, he now calls Saigon home. His previous books include Typographic Firsts (Bodleian Library Publishing, 2019).