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Summary: After Luther published his "Eight Sermons" of 1522, he decided that there was needed a shorter, more concise statement of these sermons' arguments. This is the third printing of the resulting précis.

Summary: After Luther published his "Eight Sermons" of 1522, he decided that there was needed a shorter, more concise statement of these sermons' arguments. This is the third printing of the resulting précis.

Summary: One of three reprints from the year of its first publication, this work by Melanchthon is one of the earliest textbooks for the study of rhetoric as an integral part of an education in the liberal arts.

Summary: One of three reprints from the year of its first publication, this work by Melanchthon is one of the earliest textbooks for the study of rhetoric as an integral part of an education in the liberal arts.

Summary: Early Luther sermon on how a Christian ought to view the suffering and death of Christ. First printed in 1519, this is the fifth documented Wittenberg printing of the text.

Summary: Early Luther sermon on how a Christian ought to view the suffering and death of Christ. First printed in 1519, this is the fifth documented Wittenberg printing of the text.

Summary: An early predecessor of Luther's Small Catechism, containing a simple explanation of the Ten Commandments, the Apostles' Creed, and the Lord's Prayer.

Summary: An early predecessor of Luther's Small Catechism, containing a simple explanation of the Ten Commandments, the Apostles' Creed, and the Lord's Prayer.

Summary: This is Luther's tract on auricular confession. The sacrament of penance was the focus of Luther's most vehement criticisms. Not only was the sacrament the course of numerous abuses, indulgence selling among them, but attacks on the efficacy of priestly absolution called into question the sacramental authority of all priests, the pope included.

Summary: This is Luther's tract on auricular confession. The sacrament of penance was the focus of Luther's most vehement criticisms. Not only was the sacrament the course of numerous abuses, indulgence selling among them, but attacks on the efficacy of priestly absolution called into question the sacramental authority of all priests, the pope included.

Summary: Third printing of a sermon by Martin Luther contrasting the respective powers of Christ and Herod, whereby the latter is associated with papal authority.

Summary: Third printing of a sermon by Martin Luther contrasting the respective powers of Christ and Herod, whereby the latter is associated with papal authority.

Summary: Karlstadt wrote a great deal on the sacrament of the Lord's Supper. His determination to afford the laity and active part in the celebration was to have disastrous consequences for him both professionally and personally.

Summary: Karlstadt wrote a great deal on the sacrament of the Lord's Supper. His determination to afford the laity and active part in the celebration was to have disastrous consequences for him both professionally and personally.

Summary: This poem is Hutten's reaction to the burning of Luther's books at Mainz by papal legates.

Summary: This poem is Hutten's reaction to the burning of Luther's books at Mainz by papal legates.

Summary: The first of five printings in 1520 of an answer to an attack on Luther issued under the seal and authority of Albert, Archbishop of Mainz.

Summary: The first of five printings in 1520 of an answer to an attack on Luther issued under the seal and authority of Albert, Archbishop of Mainz.

Summary: When the time stipulated in the Pope's bull of excommunication had elapsed on December 10, 1520, Luther and some of his students burned the bull and copies of the canon law. This pamphlet details their reasons for doing so. This is the third (of three) printings of the first edition.

Summary: When the time stipulated in the Pope's bull of excommunication had elapsed on December 10, 1520, Luther and some of his students burned the bull and copies of the canon law. This pamphlet details their reasons for doing so. This is the third (of three) printings of the first edition.

Summary: Early sermon of Luther's on preparing for death. One of twenty-two German printings to appear in six years.

Summary: Early sermon of Luther's on preparing for death. One of twenty-two German printings to appear in six years.

Summary: Fourth edition of the "Address to the Christian Nobility of the German Nation," one of Luther's most important pamphlets, in which he develops some of the central ideas of his theology, including the principle of universal priesthood. He also discusses the possibility of a German national church.

Summary: Fourth edition of the "Address to the Christian Nobility of the German Nation," one of Luther's most important pamphlets, in which he develops some of the central ideas of his theology, including the principle of universal priesthood. He also discusses the possibility of a German national church.

Summary: Second Wittenberg (and first 1520) printing of a sermon by Luther on the Sacrament of Baptism.

Summary: Second Wittenberg (and first 1520) printing of a sermon by Luther on the Sacrament of Baptism.

Summary: This exposition of the Lord's Prayer had its origins in a series of sermons preached by Luther during Lent, 1517. J. Agricola published his transcripts of these sermons. Luther was dissatisfied with Agricola's edition, however, and re-edited the work. This example is from the seventh printing of Luther's edition.

Summary: This exposition of the Lord's Prayer had its origins in a series of sermons preached by Luther during Lent, 1517. J. Agricola published his transcripts of these sermons. Luther was dissatisfied with Agricola's edition, however, and re-edited the work. This example is from the seventh printing of Luther's edition.

Summary: Luther was persuaded by Karl von Miltitz to write this public statement as a response to certain charges brought against him by his opponents, in particular Mazzolini da Prierio. In this tract, Luther still supports the invocation of the saints, an idea which he abandoned only shortly after.

Summary: Luther was persuaded by Karl von Miltitz to write this public statement as a response to certain charges brought against him by his opponents, in particular Mazzolini da Prierio. In this tract, Luther still supports the invocation of the saints, an idea which he abandoned only shortly after.

Summary: "Star of the Clergy" is an anonymous handbook on pastoral care. This manual was widely printed and copied. Lotter, the Leipzig printer who produced this edition, also published Luther's first work.

Summary: "Star of the Clergy" is an anonymous handbook on pastoral care. This manual was widely printed and copied. Lotter, the Leipzig printer who produced this edition, also published Luther's first work.

Summary: De laudibus sanctae crucis (On the praise of the Holy Cross) is a collection of poems and figures, including geometric shapes, letters, drawings and even complex miniatures produced in the early 9th century in the scriptorium of the Abbey at Fulda under the direction of Hrabanus Maurus, archbishop of Mainz, who also provided the commentary found in the work. The book is an important testimony to Carolingian book art.

Summary: De laudibus sanctae crucis (On the praise of the Holy Cross) is a collection of poems and figures, including geometric shapes, letters, drawings and even complex miniatures produced in the early 9th century in the scriptorium of the Abbey at Fulda under the direction of Hrabanus Maurus, archbishop of Mainz, who also provided the commentary found in the work. The book is an important testimony to Carolingian book art.

A woodcut border to Tommaso de Vio Cajetan's De diuina institutione Pontificatus Romani Pontificis super tota[m] ecclesiam: a Christo in Petro printed in 1521. The border consists of four separate woodcuts depicting floral and decorative column motifs.

A woodcut border to Tommaso de Vio Cajetan's De diuina institutione Pontificatus Romani Pontificis super tota[m] ecclesiam: a Christo in Petro printed in 1521. The border consists of four separate woodcuts depicting floral and decorative column motifs.

A woodcut depicting a cardinal talking to a lay person amidst a vinyard while a skeleton reaches for the cardinal's hat. The woodcut is accompanied by a verse from Isaiah 5:7 translated into French (top) and then reformatted into verse (bottom).

A woodcut depicting a cardinal talking to a lay person amidst a vinyard while a skeleton reaches for the cardinal's hat. The woodcut is accompanied by a verse from Isaiah 5:7 translated into French (top) and then reformatted into verse (bottom).

An engraving which depicts Emperor Constantine, Pope Sylvester I and the apocryphal “Donation of Constantine,” which gave the pope control of the imperial palace in Rome along with all the regions of the Western Empire, while Constantine will locate his government in the East. The document is likely an 8th century Carolingian invention, and it supports the idea that the papacy should hold some secular as well as sacred authority.

An engraving which depicts Emperor Constantine, Pope Sylvester I and the apocryphal “Donation of Constantine,” which gave the pope control of the imperial palace in Rome along with all the regions of the Western Empire, while Constantine will locate his government in the East. The document is likely an 8th century Carolingian invention, and it supports the idea that the papacy should hold some secular as well as sacred authority.

An engraved portrait of Pope Julius II, who sat as pope from 1503-1513. The portrait shows Julius II sitting in a chair with his coat of arms featured in the upper left corner. The portrait is labeled "IVLIVS. II. PAPA. SAVONENSIS. LIGVR".

An engraved portrait of Pope Julius II, who sat as pope from 1503-1513. The portrait shows Julius II sitting in a chair with his coat of arms featured in the upper left corner. The portrait is labeled "IVLIVS. II. PAPA. SAVONENSIS. LIGVR".