# Renascene Editions

> an effort to make available online works printed in English between the years 1477 and 1799

**Wikidata**: [Q108599344](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q108599344)  
**Source**: https://4ort.xyz/entity/renascene-editions

## Summary
Renascence Editions is a digital project and website dedicated to making works printed in English between 1477 and 1799 available online. Founded by Richard Bear, it functions as a web hosting service and book series focused on early English literature.

## Key Facts
- **Time Period Covered:** Works printed in English between the years 1477 and 1799.
- **Founder:** Richard Bear.
- **Inception:** 1990.
- **Instance of:** Website, project, and book series.
- **Primary Goal:** Web hosting service for English-language literature.
- **Official URLs:** `http://www.luminarium.org/renascence-editions/ren.htm` and `https://extra.shu.ac.uk/emls/iemls/resour/mirrors/rbear/ren.htm` (mirror storage).
- **About Page:** Described at `http://www.luminarium.org/renascence-editions/about.htm`.

## FAQs
### Q: What specific time period does Renascence Editions cover?
A: Renascence Editions provides access to works printed in English between the years 1477 and 1799.

### Q: Who created Renascence Editions?
A: The project was founded by Richard Bear.

### Q: Is Renascence Editions a physical book series or a website?
A: It is classified as both a book series and a website. It operates as an online effort to host English-language literature.

## Why It Matters
Renascence Editions serves as a significant early digital repository for English literature, extending the accessibility of historical texts that might otherwise be difficult to obtain. By digitizing works spanning over three centuries (1477–1799), the project bridges the gap between rare historical archives and modern readers. It operates as a specialized web hosting service, ensuring that the nuances of early English printing are preserved and made available for free public consumption. The project's longevity—dating back to its inception in 1990—highlights its role as a pioneering effort in the field of digital humanities and online literary preservation.

## Notable For
- **Broad Historical Scope:** Covering English works from 1477 to 1799.
- **Early Digital Adoption:** Founded in 1990, making it an early example of online literary archiving.
- **Mirrored Accessibility:** Maintaining availability through primary and mirror storage URLs (Luminarium and Sheffield Hallam University).
- **Dual Classification:** Uniquely categorized as both a "book series" and a "website."

## Body
### Founding and Mission
Renascence Editions is an effort founded by Richard Bear to make specific historical texts accessible to the public. The project's inception dates back to 1990. It is characterized as a website, a project, and a book series, with the distinct goal of serving as a web hosting service for English-language literature.

### Content Scope
The collection strictly focuses on works printed in English. The temporal range of the available literature begins in the year 1477 and extends through to 1799.

### Access and Availability
The project is accessible primarily via the Luminarium domain. To ensure reliability and continued access, the content is also preserved via mirror storage at Sheffield Hallam University (`extra.shu.ac.uk`). An "About" page providing further details on the project is hosted at `http://www.luminarium.org/renascence-editions/about.htm`.