Illuminated page from a printed copy of 'The History of the Florentine People'

This page from 'Historia del popolo fiorentino' ('The History of the Florentine People') is an early printed book has been illuminated by hand with gold and colourful paint. The History of the Florentine People is considered to be the first modern work of history, and was first published in 1442. This makes it an "incunable" or "incunabula", meaning an early printed book. This is one of the reasons the decorations are in the same style of a manuscript book.

This page includes a decorated initial (the letter M), a decorated floral border to the left of the page, and a coat of arms at the bottom of the page. Each printed book was able to be decorated by its owner in a different way. Several examples of this are linked below.