Main (Thompson) Library location: North wing -- First window. The son of a resident of Leipzig, Valentin Schumann (c. 14-- – 1542) began printing in 1514, the year he produced Johannes Reuchlin's Phorcensis Scenica Progymnasmata. His early works demonstrate a focus on classical and humanist literature. Between 1516 and 1520, Schumann was casting Greek and Hebrew typesets. During the early years of the Reformation, Schumann printed a number of Lutheran tracts and writings. Later, however, he extended the sphere of his partnerships and began to print for some of Luther's opponents, including Johann Cochläus, Hieronymous Dungersheim, Augustine Alveld, and Hieronymous Emser. For a period of three years, he worked outside of Leipzig, but returned to the city in 1526, and continued printing up until the year of his death. Schumann's mark in the Vassar Library is primarily comprised of his monogram. A branch with three leaves grows upward through the initials V.S. Flanking the vertex of the V are the letters L.D., which scholars believe to signify "Lipsiensis Dammander" (sometimes "Demander"), a crude Latinization of the printer's name. In a more elaborate version of the device, this monogram would have appeared in the center of an archway of trees, decorated with flowers. Schumann also employed a separate printing device that consisted primarily of a two-tailed mermaid, holding a flower in each hand.