Wiener Heiltumsbuch

This small book is one of the most extraordinary publications to survive from the early decades of printing. It’s an object-by-object guide to the treasures owned by Saint Stephen’s cathedral in Vienna, complete with pictures to help visitors identify the objects , one of the richest collections of religious relics in Europe. This is perhaps the first book that was meant to serve much like a museum handbook. Just a few copies survive, but that makes sense—how often do you keep your brochure from a museum visit?