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
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)
Fifteenth century
The Four Elements: Earth, Water, Lettuce, Spaghetti.
- From
- Bartholomaeus Anglicus, Bartholomeus de proprietatibus rerum
- Printed
- Westminster: Wynkyn de Worde, 1495
- Image from
- Early English Books Online (STC 1536)
Fifteenth century
Worst. Nap. Ever.
- From
- Bartholomaeus Anglicus, Bartholomeus de proprietatibus rerum
- Printed
- Westminster: Wynkyn de Worde, 1495
- Image from
- Early English Books Online (STC 1536)
Fifteenth century
Philip the Foot-Fetishist was never invited to another anatomy.
- From
- Bartholomaeus Anglicus, Bartholomeus de proprietatibus rerum
- Printed
- Westminster: Wynkyn de Worde, 1495
- Image from
- Early English Books Online (STC 1536)
Fifteenth century
I think I've found the worst woodcut of a #NotAnElephant ever. (With bonus #NotALion)
- From
- Bartholomaeus Anglicus, Bartholomeus de proprietatibus rerum
- Printed
- Westminster: Wynkyn de Worde, 1495
- Image from
- Early English Books Online (STC 1536)
When you’re storming the castle, but you only have one horse.
- Image from
- Early English Books Online (STC 1101.5)