TYPOGRAPHIC TECHNICAL SERIES FOR APPRENTICES—PART VIII, No. 50 THE INVENTION OF TYPOGRAPHY A BRIEF SKETCH OF THE INVENTION OF PRINTING AND HOW IT CAME ABOUT BY FREDERICK W. HAMILTON, LL.D. EDUCATION DIRECTOR UNITED TYPOTHETAE OF AMERICA [Illustration] PUBLISHED BY THE COMMITTEE ON EDUCATION UNITED TYPOTHETAE OF AMERICA 1918 Copyright, 1918 United Typothetae of America Chicago, Ill. Composition and electrotypes contributed by Evans-Winter-Hebb, Inc. Detroit PREFACE The writer of this book makes no claim to original investigation. The materials for such investigation do not exist to any considerable extent in this country. The results of such an investigation would form a book not suited to this series. The writer has attempted to set forth briefly the conditions which brought about the invention of printing and to present the main lines of discussion concerning the inventor. He has consulted with some care a considerable number of authorities and has endeavored to present the results in comprehensive shape. The writer believes that the history of any particular event is a part of the general history of the time in which it occurred. He has, therefore, endeavored throughout the historical portion of this series to indicate the general historic background of all particular historical events sufficiently to set these particular events in their relations to what was going on at the time in the world generally. In addition to the supplementary reading indicated in the several volumes which follow, the writer ventures to hope that the students will familiarize themselves with some good general text book on modern history. CONTENTS INTRODUCTION 7 CHAPTER I CONDITIONS IN THE MIDDLE OF THE FIFTEENTH CENTURY 11 CHAPTER II STEPS TOWARD TYPOGRAPHY 17 CHAPTER III CLAIMS TO THE INVENTION 26 CHAPTER IV THE INVENTION 32 CHAPTER V MATERIALS AND METHODS OF THE FIRST PRINTERS 47 SUPPLEMENTARY READING 52 REVIEW QUESTIONS 53 THE INVENTION OF PRINTING INTRODUCTION