This book sheds light on some rather unknown aspects of life in the early modern world: Latin picture riddles (rebuses), presented in an impressive poem on marriage, written by the the 17th-century Norwegian Nils Thomassøn. Here is a new, critical edition with translation and a comprehensive introduction. Volume 2 includes a collection of the author's sources, referred to in his learned commentary.

60 illustrations are included: a variety of Renaissance rebuses is presented, in addition to the 31 rebus stanzas and the title page from Thomassøn's book.

The book is a revised version of Vibeke Roggen's thesis for the degree dr. art., defended at Oslo University 2001.