In the first (systematic) section the flysheet as a medium is defined and set off against other media. Information is given on the conditions governing production, distribution and reception, and typical linguistic and formal features are discussed. Part Two offers a brief history of flysheets from the 15th century to 1848, focussing especially on the early Reformation and the Peasants' War but with constant reference to the other media of the respective epoch throughout.

The articles deal with issues related to corpus theory, corpus compilation, and various ways of using corpora. They provide examples of the evaluation and exploitation of corpora from synchronic, diachronic, and contrastive perspectives. The application-related approach maintained throughout also raises questions in connection with copyright, the reading process, and electronic coding techniques.