The Printers, Stationers and Bookbinders of London and Westminster in the Fifteenth Century; A Series of Four Lectures Delivered at Cambridge in the Lent Term, MDCCCIC. (Paperback)

This historic book may have numerous typos and missing text. Purchasers can download a free scanned copy of the original book (without typos) from the publisher. Not indexed. Not illustrated. 1899. Excerpt: ... LECTURE I. THE PRINTERS AT WESTMINSTER. While the history of the invention and introduction of the art of printing into the various countries of Europe is not only obscure, but still the subject of endless controversy, the history of its introduction into England is now practically settled. There are no troublesome and incomprehensible documents as in the case of France. No questionable references or undatable fragments such as Dutch and German bibliographers have to contend with. The only attempt that has been made to bring forward an earlier printer than William Caxton is founded upon the misprinted date in the first book printed at Oxford. In 1664, while the Company of Stationers and the King were quarrelling over the question of which had or should have the most power in matters pertaining to printing, a certain Richard Atkyns put forth a tract, now exceedingly rare, called The Original and Growth of Printing, In this tract, intended to uphold the king's rights, attention was drawn for the first time to the Oxford book. "A book came into my hands" writes Atkyns, "printed at Oxford, A.d. 1468, which was three years before any of the recited authors would allow it to be in England." Around this book Atkyns wove a wonderful romance, in the style of the earlier legends about Coster and Gutenberg. Rumours of the new art, he suggests, having reached England, trusted men were sent over to bribe or kidnap an eligible printer and bring him over secretly, along with a press, type and other impedimenta, to England. This was accordingly done, and a certain Frederick Corsellis was conveyed into England, and set up a press in Oxford. One curious point has escaped all commentators on this story, and that is that a real person named Corsellis did come over to England...