'EIn Sermon … von dem ablass vnd gnade …' by Martin Luther ([Nuremberg], 1517) [Library shelfmark: Crawford.R.35].
Martin Luther produced a vernacular version of his 95 theses for a non-academic market in spring 1518.
Within two years, it appeared in 24 editions, a Low German and a Latin translation, making it an instant bestseller of the Reformation.
Only through this treatise did Luther's thinking about the Church's sale of indulgences reach the German masses.
Luther was quick to use the fairly recent invention of the printing press to his advantage. Without it, his cause would never have had such a fast and widespread impact.
This document featured in the display 'The Reformation: What was it all about?' that ran at the National Library from 19 October to 10 December 2017.