Block books: religious comics of 15th century

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LMU University Library is inviting people to take a journey into the early phase of book printing. Works from its block book collection, the third largest in all of Germany, are on display in the Exhibition Hall until 28 June.

Block books come from the early days of printing. They were printed from wooden panels. There were two main types of production: Either the images and text were carved into wood, or else the images were printed and the text was written by hand.

The first technique was developed in China all the way back in the 7th century during the Tang dynasty. In Europe, block books emerged during the 15th century. Religious themes dominate: Bible stories, prayers, or works of moral edification and didactic instruction. They were designed to meet the need for suitable literature for a broad public.

The books had to convey their themes primarily through the medium of images. This meant they would also reach the segments of the population that could not read. They gave the readers guidance and were meant to help them prepare in the here and now for death and the afterlife.

“The books recall today’s comics and can be understood even if you cannot read the text,” says Dr. Sven Kuttner, Deputy Director and Head of the Special Collections Department at the University Library. “They are a guide for living and dying.”

Rarities in LMU University Library

Just under 40 block book titles in 100 editions are known to exist worldwide, and even fewer have survived the centuries in good condition. This makes the University Library’s collection all the more remarkable: With nine titles in eleven editions, the library houses the third largest block book collection in Germany – only the Bavarian State Library and the Berlin Museum of Prints and Drawings have larger holdings.

If you want to experience the block books, you should not wait too long. According to Sven Kuttner, there will most likely be no further exhibition of the books in the next 20 years.

For more on the exhibition, see:

Exhibition: „Die Blockbücher der Universitätsbibliothek der LMU München" (The Block Books of Munich University Library)

The exhibition runs until 28 June 2026.