Minnesota State Law Library
Minnesota State Law Library
This book is the oldest item in the library's collection. It was published in 1557 and printed in England. It's possible to see the outlines of the printers blocks around the edges of some of the letters, particularly R and A. This book was donated to the library by former Governor Elmer L. Anderson during the Sesquicentennial celebrations in 1999.
This is a newer cover, replaced sometime before the library acquired it in 1999.
Natura Brevium R. Tottell, 1557
While this book was printed in English, it is an earlier form of the language, when spelling hadn't been settled yet. The type font also makes it challenging to read.
"Imprinted at London in Flete Strete, within Temple Barre, at the sygne of the Hande and Starre, by Rycharde Tottell, the xxvii daie of Februarye. Anno domini, 1557. Cum priuilegio ad imprimendum solum."
Math problems are another type of annotation left in the book.
Many of the end papers in this volume are covered in the writings of previous owners. One notable annotation is the name of a previous owner, "Samuel Jones, his booke, 1697"
More notes.