Lyfe of Saynt Margarete

Legenda Aurea's inspired booklet, with letterpress and woodcut printing.

Letterpress and woodcut printing

finished edition

Cover with woodcut print and letterpress print of the booklet "Lyfe of Saynt Margarete"

The glorious lyf and Passyon of the blessyd virgyne and martir Saynt Margarete is the second chapter on the edition started in 2023 with the Lyfe of Saynt George, based on William Caxton's translation of The Golden Legend, which was published in Westminster in 1483.

The Golden Legend (Latin: Legenda Aurea), compiled by Jacobus de Voragine in the second half of the 13th century, was a very popular collection of hagiographies.

This booklet focuses again on a popular medieval story, in which dragons play an important role.

This booklet edition with woodcut and letterpress printing, has eight pages with an adaptation of the chapter about the life of Saint Margarete and includes four woodcuts: the capital M that marks the beginning of the text, two illustrations with scenes from the text, and the cover image.

Printed on handmade linen-laid paper.

These individual booklets can be compiled into a comprehensive book. However, the specific number of chapters and the frequency of future editions have yet to be determined.

Finished printing on the 13th of August 2024.

GALLERY

Cover of the booklet "Lyfe of Saynt Margarete"

Cover of the booklet "Lyfe of Saynt Margarete"

Cover with woodcut print and letterpress print of the booklet "Lyfe of Saynt Margarete"

Margarete

Movable type used for printing the text.

Printing Press

Our reproduction of a late 15th-century Printing Press.

Printed pages

Printed covers of the booklet "Lyfe of Saynt Margarete".

Prints

Printed covers of the booklet "Lyfe of Saynt Margarete".

Woodcut print

Detail of St. Margarete on the first proof print of this block.

Woodcut print

First proof print of the block with St. Margarete and the provost Olybrius.

3rd block

Initial drawing for the block with St. Margarete and the deuyl.

3rd block

Woodblock ready for print.

Proof print

Proof print of the block with St. Margarete and the deuyl.

Printed pages

Diverse printed pages of the booklet "Lyfe of Saynt Margarete".

Printing in action

Printing in action

Printing a page of the booklet.

Galley

Galley with movable type and woodcut with initial M, the first page of text.

Galley

Detail of wooden galley with movable type and woodcut with initial M, the first page of text.

3rd block

The finished block with St. Margarete and the deuyl.

Cherry block

Image ready for cutting.

Woodcut in action

Woodcut in action

Working on the capital M for the first page of the booklet.

M from Margarete

M from Margarete

The capital M starts the story with an original illustration based on original medieval alphabets.

The finished booklet "Lyfe of Saynt Margarete"

The finished booklet "Lyfe of Saynt Margarete"

Booklet with woodcut print and letterpress print of the booklet "Lyfe of Saynt Margarete"

Capital M and woodcut print

Capital M and woodcut print

Booklet with woodcut print and letterpress print of the booklet "Lyfe of Saynt Margarete"

Saint Margarete meets the devil

Saint Margarete meets the devil

Turning a page of the booklet "Lyfe of Saynt Margarete"

The finished booklet "Lyfe of Saynt Margarete"

The finished booklet "Lyfe of Saynt Margarete"

Booklet with woodcut print and letterpress print of the booklet "Lyfe of Saynt Margarete"

Colophon of the edition

Colophon of the edition

Colophon of the booklet "Lyfe of Saynt Margarete"