Title Page

Thomas Orwin printed this edition of The Haven of Health in 1588. Although he had his own printing devices, the device used on the title page is not one he commonly used. [1] Printing devices were woodblock designs that distinguished publishers and booksellers from their competitors. [2]  The barrel with the letters "nor" and the letter "W" underneath indicate this device belonged to the bookseller William Norton. 

The book appears to be printed on paper as opposed to parchment or vellum.

Orwin began his printing career in London as an apprentice to Thomas Purfoot. When his predecessor George Robinson passed away in the 1580s, Orwin married Robinson's widow and took over his business. [3]

An example of the red coloring along the edge of each page.

Each page in the book has a red colored edge. This technique of coloring the edges was used to prevent the pages from becoming dirty or damaged. [4] The pages are still in excellent condition for being over 400 years old, and the colored edges have helped maintain their integrity. Although preservation was the primary purpose for edge coloring, this technique was also used as a means of decoration. The process of edge coloring is done by mixing oil and a material such as Armenian Bole (a red clay) and carefully applying the mixture in order to protect and color the edges. [5]