Main (Thompson) Library location: North wing -- Sixth window. Before becoming a printer and bookseller, Nicole de la Barre (c.14-- – c. 15--) received his Master of Arts at the University of Paris, where he later worked as a professor. In 1496, de la Barre became associated with printer Antoine Denidel, and shortly after, he established his own practice at the Sign of the Lily until 1515. De la Barre worked from another press, still in Paris, until retirement; his last known work, La mer des conricques et mirouer hystorical de France, is dated to 1536. Of his approximately twenty publications, the most significant titles include De imitatione Christi, Moralia, and a French translation of The Golden Legend. De la Barre's mark in the Vassar Library displays the initials N.B. at the foot of a double-cross, which bisects another diagonal cross. Just above the monogram is a detailed variation of the traditional four-mark motif. De la barre developed several versions of his full device. The earliest versions illustrated Adam and Eve presenting the above mark, inscribed in a heart; the border of this device bears the Latin inscription Benedicte et nolite maledicere, h[a]ec dicit Dominus ("Bless and do not curse, thus says the Lord"). In the later version, two cherubim present the mark instead and support a banner that says Mors omnibus [a]equa ("Death is equal for all"). De la Barre includes a fleur-de-lis as a reference to his press at the Sign of the Lily, as well as the initials of Jesus and the Virgin Mary (I.H.S. and M), at the top of the device.