The Ornaments in Swedenborg's Theological First Editions
Jonathan S. Rose, M.Div., Ph.D.


Title Page Ornaments

Swedenborg used five different ornaments on his title pages. Four of them appear just once, all with a full width straight line (or two) above and below. The fifth appears eight times. Twelve out of Swedenborg's twenty-five theological title pages, about half, carry ornaments. Occupying less than a full line's width, they are all centered low on the title page above the place and date of publication.

The fifth and most repeated title page ornament bears a Latin motto, CURA ET LABORE, "with care and work" (Title Page Ornament 05). Written above a cherub watering potted plants in a country garden, it seems to suggest that these are the qualities needed to help things grow. The phrase calls to mind themes in Vergil's Georgics. Although one might use its frequency and location to argue that this ornament is a printer's device I have found it in no collections of printer's devices from the time period; and if as one would assume Swedenborg used the same printer for all eleven works produced in Amsterdam it should have appeared on the other three works (Conjugial Love, Brief Exposition, True Christian Religion) but does not.

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Title Page Ornament 01: London

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Occurs once as a title page ornament.
(This ornament occurs also as Tailpiece 13).
HH.1.

Title Page Ornament 02: London

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Occurs once.
HD.1.

Title Page Ornament 03: London

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Occurs once as a title page ornament.
(This ornament occurs also as Tailpiece 15).
LJ.1.

Title Page Ornament 04: London

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Occurs once as a title page ornament.
(This ornament occurs also as Tailpiece 16).
WH.1.

Title Page Ornament 05: Amsterdam

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Occurs eight times.
DL.1; SS.1; LI.1; FA.1; CJ.1; DW.1; DP.1; AR.1.

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