The Commonplace Book

Woodcuts and pictures from other people’s books, copied out with a caption apiece, as early modern readers kept commonplace books. First gathered on Twitter: #WoodcutWednesday, #NotALion and the manuscripts.

Sixteenth century

And you thought your cat was great. Satan here talks and promises his owner riches.

From: John Phillips, The examination and confession of certaine wytches at Chensforde
Printed: London, 1566
Image from: Early English Books Online (STC 19869.5)

Sixteenth century

Suffering from a bad case of #VaginaEyes.

From: John Phillips, The examination and confession of certaine wytches at Chensforde
Printed: London, 1566
Image from: Early English Books Online (STC 19869.5)

Sixteenth century

Sorry, early modern printer. This is #NotAToad.

From: John Phillips, The examination and confession of certaine wytches at Chensforde
Printed: London, 1566
Image from: Early English Books Online (STC 19869.5)

Sixteenth century

Just poor-sighted Mother Dutten, feeding her pet dogs.

From: A rehearsall both straung and true, of hainous and horrible actes committed…
Printed: 1579
Image from: Early English Books Online (STC 23267)

Sixteenth century

Jack and Jill went up the hill to fetch a pail of–Oh my God! What the actual fuck???

From: The apprehension and confession of three notorious witches. Arreigned and by iustice…
Printed: 1589
Image from: Early English Books Online (STC 5114)

Sixteenth century

This is how I’m going to end everything I ever write from now on.

From: The apprehension and confession of three notorious witches. Arreigned and by iustice…
Printed: 1589
Image from: Early English Books Online (STC 5114)

Sixteenth century

Your Enormous Codpiece Style Kung Fu is strong, but my Fancy Hat Style will defeat you.

From: Juvenall Borget, The divels legend. or: a learned cachephochysme containing the confession of the…
Printed: 1595
Image from: Early English Books Online (STC 3388)

Sixteenth century

Just a devil birthing a Pope.

From: Stephen Batman, The doome warning all men to the iudgemente
Printed: London: Ralph Newbery, 1581
Image from: Early English Books Online (STC 1582)

Sixteenth century

What it is like coming home from work when you have a house full of dogs.

From: Stephen Batman, The doome warning all men to the iudgemente
Printed: London: Ralph Newbery, 1581
Image from: Early English Books Online (STC 1582)

Sixteenth century

Best. Woodcut. Ever. (With bonus #NotALion)

From: Stephen Batman, The doome warning all men to the iudgemente
Printed: London: Ralph Newbery, 1581
Image from: Early English Books Online (STC 1582)

Sixteenth century

I’m adopting this as my own personal seal.

From: Stephen Batman, The doome warning all men to the iudgemente
Printed: London: Ralph Newbery, 1581
Image from: Early English Books Online (STC 1582)

Sixteenth century

PRINT IS DEAD AND WE HAVE KILLED IT.

From: Stephen Batman, The doome warning all men to the iudgemente
Printed: London: Ralph Newbery, 1581
Image from: Early English Books Online (STC 1582)

Sixteenth century

This is the most depressed Pope-Ass Monster I’ve ever encountered.

From: Stephen Batman, The doome warning all men to the iudgemente
Printed: London: Ralph Newbery, 1581
Image from: Early English Books Online (STC 1582)

Sixteenth century

A game of Early Modern Twister gets intense.

From: Stephen Batman, The doome warning all men to the iudgemente
Printed: London: Ralph Newbery, 1581
Image from: Early English Books Online (STC 1582)

Sixteenth century

When the Molly kicks in.

From: Stephen Batman, The doome warning all men to the iudgemente
Printed: London: Ralph Newbery, 1581
Image from: Early English Books Online (STC 1582)

Sixteenth century

Now that we have a heart icon, can we also get a baboon presenting his ass and balls icon?

From: Stephen Batman, The doome warning all men to the iudgemente
Printed: London: Ralph Newbery, 1581
Image from: Early English Books Online (STC 1582)

Sixteenth century

This Movember nonsense is getting out of control.

From: Stephen Batman, The doome warning all men to the iudgemente
Printed: London: Ralph Newbery, 1581
Image from: Early English Books Online (STC 1582)

Sixteenth century

GAAAAH!

From: Stephen Batman, The doome warning all men to the iudgemente
Printed: London: Ralph Newbery, 1581
Image from: Early English Books Online (STC 1582)

Sixteenth century

Early Modern Big Bird was a lot more terrifying.

From: Stephen Batman, The doome warning all men to the iudgemente
Printed: London: Ralph Newbery, 1581
Image from: Early English Books Online (STC 1582)

Sixteenth century

Just posting this because I want to make sure to keep it in mind for a future woodcut.

From: Stephen Batman, The doome warning all men to the iudgemente
Printed: London: Ralph Newbery, 1581
Image from: Early English Books Online (STC 1582)

Sixteenth century

When you know you’re having a good hair day.

From: Stephen Batman, The doome warning all men to the iudgemente
Printed: London: Ralph Newbery, 1581
Image from: Early English Books Online (STC 1582)

Sixteenth century

Tyler took his #TwitterHeart boycott a little too seriously.

From: Stephen Batman, The doome warning all men to the iudgemente
Printed: London: Ralph Newbery, 1581
Image from: Early English Books Online (STC 1582)

Sixteenth century

When your partner unexpectedly wakes you up from a nap.

From: Stephen Batman, The doome warning all men to the iudgemente
Printed: London: Ralph Newbery, 1581
Image from: Early English Books Online (STC 1582)

Sixteenth century

When you realize you ended that conference call with “I love you.”

From: Andrew Boorde, The fyrst boke of the introduction of knowledge
Printed: London: William Copland, 1555?
Image from: Early English Books Online (STC 3383)