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The collections in Early European Books bring online over 200 years of remarkable works from pre-18th century Europe. The contents are drawn from major repositories including the Danish Royal Library, the National Central Library in Florence, the National Library of France, the National Library of the Netherlands, and the Wellcome Library in London. No other online source offers such a wide survey of the print output of Europe from 1450-1700, removing the need for lengthy research trips and saving valuable time and budget.
As the definitive resource in its category, Early European Books allows unlimited access to thousands of pre-1701 books and rare incunabula printed in Europe. It embraces the two-and-a-half centuries following Gutenberg’s invention of movable type in the mid-15th century, which witnessed an unprecedented proliferation and dissemination of literature throughout Europe. In keeping with the tenor of the time, religious works dominate, but there is no shortage of secular material concerning every field of human thought and activity.
Drawing from a diverse array of primary sources in their original languages, this acclaimed series opens the door to in-depth scholarship that was once limited to fragile manuscripts housed in far-flung institutions.
EEB 1-10 provides researchers with the unique opportunity to see how chronicles and histories were marketed to reach different reading publics. It also offers the opportunity to trace owners of individual copies and examine how these past users read or engaged with historical narratives.
DR. NINA LAMAL
Developed and produced in collaboration with scholars, rare book librarians, bibliographers and other experts, Early European Books offers millions of fully searchable pages scanned directly from the original printed sources in high-resolution full color. Each item is captured in its entirety, complete with binding, edges, endpapers, blank pages and any loose inserts. The result is a wealth of information about the physical characteristics and histories of the original.
Find training and informational resources - including accessibility
Track the print innovations that gave the print industry the breadth and thematic variety that ultimately secured its financial viability
Understand the importance of metadata, as well as the curation and digitization of materials, for researchers and scholars
Explore how Early European Books and other resources can be used to research epidemics that have impacted global societies in the past.
Discover examples of women printers found across the Early European Books collection
Designed by EdTech Experts for Teaching, Learning and Research Success
学者手工挑选的藏品提供了未经过滤的生活、文化和社会观，为学生培养批判性思维技能，提升学者的研究热情
ProQuest 的签名数字化提供了清晰的图像，再现了以原始形式探索文档的体验
用户搜索、发现、比较和分析更快、更精确，从而实现新的见解和突破
Collections 1-10 Highlights
EEB 1-10 includes book catalogues that reflect the interests and popularity of items from the early modern period but also a substantial number of the items listed in those catalogues.
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Arthur de Weduwen, Ph.D. student at the University of St. Andrews, tells us how he uses Early European Books in his research such as how typographic changes can be observed over centuries.
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Simon Hudson, Senior Metadata Editor at ProQuest, sheds light on how Early European Books enrich research and learning, delving into topics such as the dissemination of Reformist ideas and their role in the Protestant Reformation.
Read Case studyEarly European Books offers opportunities to explore examples of books produced by some of the most important printers in all the cities at moments when they were at the height of their productivity and fame. As a single resource, the collection allows us to explore the culture of medicine in this period, but also a large number of other fields and intellectual currents, such as engagement with the New World, or Golden Age literature and drama.
Sandy Wilkinson, Professor
Arthur der Weduwen, Historian at the University of St. Andrews, explores the impact of the printing press on the dissemination of political and state communication.
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Andrew Pettegree is a renowned British historian, professor at St. Andrews University, director of the Universal Short Title Catalog (USTC), and a leading expert on Europe during the Reformation.
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Case study
Andrew Pettegree, renowned British historian and professor at St Andrews University, delves into how the printing press influenced 15th century European religion — and how religion influenced the early publishing industry.
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