Preface List of Works Discussed List of Illustrations Introduction: Paratexts, Authorship, and the Transmission of Knowledge 1 Neo-Latin Literature and the Transmission of Knowledge 2 The New Boost of Paratextual Presentation, ca. 1350-1600 3 Early Modern Paratextual Figurations: Some Indications of Their Function 4 The Death of the Author and His Resurrection: the Discussion of Authorship in Medieval Studies 5 Dedications and Prefaces of the Pre-Modern Era (Antiquity - ca. 1800) in Modern Scholarship 6 "Authorisation" as the Basis of Authorship and Transmission of KnowledgeI The Embedding of the Author in Secular and Ecclesiastical Structures of Power: Strategies of "Authorisation" I.1 The Complexity of the Seemingly Simple: Obedience and Loyalty? Gratitude for Benefits? I.2 The Joint Appearance of the Author and the Dedicatee in the Act of Publication I.3 The Creation of Decorum: the laudatio of the Dedicatee as a Means of Authorisation I.4 Amicitia : The Staging of an Amicable Relationship between the Author and a Higher-Ranking Dedicatee I.5 Other Strategies of Involving the Dedicatees and Connecting with ThemII Authorisation Through Ritual II.

1 The Ritual of Dedication: the Ceremonial Handover of the Book and Ritual Aspects of the Letters of Dedication II.2 The Coronation of poete laureate as AuthorisationIII Authorisation via Intellectual Dedicatees III.1 Authorising Strategies via Intellectual Dedicatees: Humanist Friends and Figureheads, Teachers and Pupils, Humanist Societies and Academies III.2 Humanist Decorum: the Presentation of the Dedicatee as a Means of AuthorisationIV Authorisation through Rituals Beyond the Court Ceremonial IV.1 The Foundation of Authorship via the Deities of Antiquity: Invocation of the Muses/Apollo, Epiphany, Divine Commission, Dichterweihe IV.2 The Foundation of Authorship by Christian Religion: Prayer to God and Mary for Inspiration, Imaginary Dedication Scenes, and Ecstasy IV.3 Rituals in Humanist Academies IV.4 Ritual Elements in the Humanist Cult of FriendshipV Other Means of Authorisation in Dedications, Introductory Paratexts, and Author Portraits V.

1 Holidays - Illness - Dilettantism: Specific Times, Places, and Spaces of Writing as a Means of Authorisation V.2 The Author as Inventor? Authorisation of Literary and Scientific Innovations V.3 Posteritas : Writing for Eternity Bibliography on the Topics Covered in This Study Index Nominum.