Bum Fodder and Kindling: Cheap Print in Renaissance Spain

Abstract

Ephemera—items printed on one or two sheets—represent a huge and culturally important part of early-modern publishing culture. Problematically, however, what has survived in modern collections represents only a tiny fraction of what was once produced. This article examines the problems associated with working with and contextualizing ephemeral literature, addressing issues such as identification and survival. A substantial sample of ephemera was created using the most recent surveys of printing in Spain, England and France before 1601. This article sets out the findings of that work. For the first time, it is possible to reveal—based on the surviving record at least—the very different characters of ephemeral print production in these countries. The article also suggests fertile areas for future research, which might help add greater depth and colour to our understanding of this important, if often neglected, seam of literature.