Rare Book School Lecture: The Catholicon Press Revisited: The Evidence of Nailheads
With Retired Scheide Librarian, Paul Needham
The Catholicon, whose colophon states that it was printed in Mainz, 1460, has been the subject of controversy for more than fifty years. Paul Needham argues that it was printed from thin two-line stereotypes, used for three typographically identical impressions, dating to 1460, 1469, and 1472–73. Others maintain that it was printed directly from movable types, like all other incunables; that the colophon date is wrong; and that all copies were printed in 1469. Needham, working with Eric White, has recently discovered new evidence which strongly supports the stereotype hypothesis.
You are invited to attend this lecture in person or virtually via Zoom.
To attend IN PERSON: register using the button below.
To attend VIRTUALLY: register for the livestream via this link.
The lecture will run from 5:30pm to 6:30pm. For those joining us in person, please stay after the talk to enjoy some refreshments.
Image credit: The Scheide Library, Special Collections, Princeton University Library
- Date:
- Tuesday, July 29, 2025
- Time:
- 5:30pm - 7:00pm
- Location:
- East Pyne 010
- Audience:
- First-Year Graduate Students Friends of Princeton University Library Independent Scholar / Outside Researcher Member of the Public Princeton Alumni Princeton Faculty/Researcher Princeton Staff Princeton Student Student Friends of Princeton University Library
- Categories:
- Events