After the title page was introduced by Peter Schoffer in 1463, and became generally accepted some 12 or 13 years later, it became a focal point for the printer’s art. In 1476, Erhard Ratdolt printed the first ornamental title page, which consisted of type with woodcut borders to the sides and at the top of the page. Ratdolt did not immediately repeat this practice in succeeding books, but nevertheless, the idea of the title page was firmly established. At the turn of the century, the styles for title pages ranged from the simple typographical arrangements of Aldus Manutius to title pages that were two-thirds ornamental borders or illustration. At about the same time, printers revived the principle of the xylographic books, with text and illustration carved on a single block, to make title pages. Type could be reversed or interlocked. It could be larger than was possible to cast, or could be integrated with illustration or ornamental effects. This was the period when the reverse, or white-line titles pages, initials, and ornamental borders first became popular.
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De Proprietate Verum, printed by Wynkyn De Worde, 1495. Letters cut intaglio into an oak block.
Illustration of an early printing press.