Setting Copies Before the Eyes While Losing Sight of the Edition. Digitization and Retrospective Bibliography

Description

[ABSTRACT] Our understanding of the Renaissance relies heavily on research tools like printed bibliographies of incunabula and post-incunabula. These bibliographies draw upon the holdings of many libraries, and some include references to lost books known only through manuscript transcriptions. In recent years, digitization programs have sought to make early modern books accessible online, bringing specific copies directly to our screens. This digital revolution is still in its infancy. While acknowledging the significance of digitization, this paper examines which books are made available online, how they are presented, and what knowledge may be overlooked. By analyzing two contrasting cases—the ProQuest digitization of all Danish books from 1482-1600 for Early European Books and the Royal Library’s in-house digitization of Danish books printed between 1601-1700—I argue that digitization does not eliminate the need for bibliographies. Instead, it underscores the importance of a renewed focus on retrospective bibliographies to complement and enhance digitization.

Period	22 Mar 2025
Event title	The Renaissance Society of America, Annual Meeting , 2025
Event type	Conference
Conference number	71
Location	Boston, United States, MassachusettsShow on map
Degree of Recognition	International