Emblem Books

Scope and Contents: Emblem books are a variety of illustrated book, primarily produced in the sixteenth through the eighteenth century. They consist of collections of three?part compositions, each made up of an illustration, a motto (serving as the title of the piece) and an epigram or other written text. It is not uncommon for there to be additional explanatory sections in prose or verse. A broader interpretation includes many other types of illustrated books, such as emblematized fables, Dance of Death books, and books illustrating triumphs that contain numerous and prominent emblems. The development of the UIUC Emblem Books Collection was due in large part to the efforts of Professor Henri Stegemeier (1912 - 2001). The collection was described by Thomas McGeary and N. Frederick Nash in Emblem Books at the University of Illinois (Boston: G.K. Hall, 1993). Since then, numerous emblem books have been added to the collection.