15th-Century European Blockbooks: What Are They and Where Are They Now? talk at the Boston International Antiquarian Book Fair

15th-Century European Blockbooks: What Are They and Where Are They Now? <a href="https://themorgan.academia.edu/JohnTMcQuillen">John McQuillen</a>, PhD, Morgan Library &amp; Museum, Associate Curator of Printed Books &amp; Bindings Blockbooks, now often referred to as “medieval graphic novels,” were highly illustrated books printed entirely from woodcuts (text and image together). As such, they were the first print-on-demand books in the West. First produced in the early 1450s—at the same time as the Gutenberg Bible—their cumbersome and limited printing process, coupled with the fragility of the wooden blocks, meant that the medium couldn't really compete with typographic printing and largely died out through the 1480s. This 30-year period, however, represents an interestingly experimental moment in European book history. Blockbooks were 'rediscovered' in the 17th and 18th centuries by antiquarians trying to fit these enigmatic works into the history of printing, and early collectors of incunabula sought these rarities as the precursors of typography. Some original copies were fragmented and broken up through use, damage, and the practices of dealers and collectors. Today, there are 143 recorded examples (from complete copies to leaf fragments), representing about 110 original copies, now located in 42 institutional and private collections in North America. The 2026 Boston Book Fair is the annual fall gathering for book lovers and collectors, featuring the top selection of items available on the international literary market. Mark your calendars for the 48th annual gathering of U.S. and international dealers, sanctioned by the Antiquarian Booksellers’ Association of America and the International League of Antiquarian Booksellers. This three-day event features fine and rare materials from around the globe, including manuscripts, modern first editions, children’s books, ephemera, maps and autographs, as well as antiquarian books on a vast array of topics. <a href="https://maps.app.goo.gl/ZjgaVBRStYYsFivg8">Hynes Convention Center&nbsp;</a> 900 Boylston Street Boston, MA 02115 United States Friday, November 6, 2026 | 4pm-8pm | $25 (valid Fri, Sat &amp; Sun) Saturday, November 7, 2026 | 12pm-7pm | $15 (valid Sat &amp; Sun) Sunday, November 8, 2026 | 11am-4pm | $10 (valid Sun only)

Hynes Convention Center

Nina ninajberger@hotmail.com

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15th-Century European Blockbooks: What Are They and Where Are They Now? talk at the Boston International Antiquarian Book Fair

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