Antwerp

Antwerp is a city of supremely sedate cyclists. Like little horses the bikes wear their panniers with their handlebars held high, the riders sit upright and by-and-large obey the traffic laws.

I didn't get to cycle in Antwerp, so I just took some photos of the bikes...

But I did get to run in Antwerp and discovered that the law-abiding citizens have an annoying habit of only crossing roads when the little green man says so - regardless of whether there is no traffic for 1/4 mile in each direction. Fine when perambulating in search of bikes to photograph, less fun when trying to run without freezing to death. When I made it down to the river though I was able to follow the bike path (which scooters used too...) and enjoy the sights.

The best sights in Antwerp cannot be seen on the run. The Plantin-Moretus museum was the reason I was in Antwerp in the first place, and it didn't disappoint. As a trainee book historian and bibliophile, the sight of so much printing paraphernalia sent me weak at the knees.

The Universal Short Title Catalogue team were fortunate in having such a wonderful venue for the launch conference of Netherlandish Books.

A C16th map of Scotland, a form with the type set, copper engraving with print:

Music folio: printing this many pages of music was expensive, labour intensive and a very long job. Only a rich printer with several presses could accomplish this, unless - as was the case with Parisian printers - several printers and booksellers collaborated on the project.