Five Hundred Years Of Printing

"A concise and scholarly but entertaining account of the relation between printing and civilization." — British Printer.
This highly readable survey traces the history of printing with movable type from its 15th-century beginnings in Gutenberg's workshop to the technical advances of the 20th century. Observations on type design, book production, bestsellers, censorship, and other topics explore associations between printing and education, language, and literature.
S. H. Steinberg's classic study begins with the creative century, from 1450 to 1550, which witnessed the invention and origins of practically every single feature that characterizes modern printing. A look at the era of consolidation follows, noting additional developments and refinements. The final section examines the 19th century and its era of mechanization, which began with the invention of lithography and ended with William Morris's rediscovery of the Middle Ages. The book concludes with the radical innovations of the 20th century, ranging from new methods of production and distribution to the changing habits of producers and readers.

German-English editor Sigfrid Henry Steinberg (1899–1969) specialized in history, literature, and art history. A Reader at Leipzig University and a researcher at the Courtauld Institute, he worked for British military intelligence during World War II and edited many encyclopedias and dictionaries.

Foreword by Beatrice WardeAnnotated List of PlatesAcknowledgementsIntroductionI. THE FIRST CENTURY OF PRINTING, 1450-15501. The Incunabula Period2. Gutenberg3. Type Design4. The Spread of Printing5. Printing in the Vernacular6. Printer and Publisher7. Early Best-sellers8. The Title Page9. Book IllustrationII. THE ERA OF CONSOLIDATION, 1550-18001. Type Design2. Book Production3. Publishers and Patrons4. Official and Private Presses5. The Reading Public6. The Periodical Press7. Libraries8. CensorshipIII. THE NINETEENTH CENTURY AND AFTER1. Technical Progress2. The Latin Alphabet in Script and Print3. The Trade4. Censorship5. Official and Private Presses6. The Reading Public7. Best-sellers and Steady Sellers8. Popular SeriesConclusionBibliographical NotesIndex