Engravers in the Middle Ages had an important influence on history. With the start of printing in the mid 1400's and with engraved images increasing in quantity and importance in about 1500, historical information was, for the first time, passed on quickly and widely through illustrated printed books. Since 16th century engravings contained many symbols, the engraver of an image that was to be included into a book, to some extent, influenced history. Remember that a large degree of printed, illustrated material at that time was religious and often times included in illustrated bibles. The printing medium of that era was the woodcut. The image was engraved into the end of a block of wood, it was inked and then each woodcut engraving was pressed one by one. These prints were executed on hand-made laid paper using daylight or candlelight. A good example of a woodcut engraver that influenced history was Virgil Solis (1514-1562) of Nuremberg, Germany. He was an associate of Martin Luther (1483-1546) and executed the wood engravings for Luther's first illustrated Bible in 1561. (Also called the "Bible of Palantine"). Solis is said to have "changed the Epoch of Bible illustrations". With this he was able to take a part in the Reformation. Solis's busy engravings, with several activities occurring in different parts of the small antique print at the same time, were much more exciting than those used in other bibles of his time such as the Calvin Bible. His work is also said to have influenced the first bibles produced in the English language. Unfortunately, Solis lived at a dangerous time and even though he and Luther escaped being put to death as martyrs, Solis died of the plague in 1562. About the Author: Sandtique is one of the largest sellers of Antique Prints on E-Bay with over 7,200 listings. Sandtique specializes in chromolithographs and hand-colored engravings and is featuring original woodcuts by Virgil Solis from the 1561 Luther Bible. Check us out at www.sandtique-rare-prints.com