To coincide with the 500th anniversary of the birth of the Reformation, on 31st October 2017 The London Library displayed a very rare treasure in its Reading Room.

It’s an original 1517 copy of one of the three print editions that were produced within weeks of the theses first appearing. Their effect was immediate and lasting, rapidly spreading debate and dissension across Germany.

Each print edition has its own fascinating characteristics, indicating that they were all produced in haste. Our Petri edition, for example, bears the signs of having been over-inked, while others have very obvious typographical mistakes.

Read our fascinating blog for more on the background of a document that changed the world!