I’ve read a lot of debate lately about what we lose by going to digital books and one thing is the ability to see the notes the previous reader left in the margins. Although, if a future as described by Kevin Kelly at The Technium becomes reality, we’ll all be collaborating together to write books wiki fashion.
Used Books by William H. Sherman, published by University of Pennsylvania Press, is devoted to the markings of books by readers in Renaissance England. It’s a fairly academic book as evidenced by the 64 pages of Notes and Bibliography. My favorite chapter is devoted to the history of the manicule a.k.a pointing hand.
Sherman is unable to specify the exact date readers began using small pointing hands in books to mark noteworthy passages, but has traced it as far back as twelfth-century Spain. He describes the hands used in fourteenth- and fifteen-century Italy as “shockingly fanciful and delightfully stylized”. Here are a few examples from various periods found in his book.
Over the years, for some reason not clearly understood, readers stopped taking the time to draw little hands towards interesting tidbits. But we still see manicules today on signage pointing to important or interesting information.
Outside a bookstore in Mexico. Image: Nick Sherman
On a fire extinguisher notification. Image: Leo Reynolds
In crew instructions. Would they have time to read these in a time of need? Image: Jeremy Keith
Simply pointing the way in England. Image: Leo Reynolds
If you look around, you’ll see manicules on many modern signs. Had you noticed them before today?
Enjoy,
JT
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