To the Williamsburg printer we owe a word of thanks for the important part that he has played in the affairs of this early Virginia capital—affairs that had notable influence on the course of American history. Since civilization began, the communication of ideas has largely depended upon the written word. The eighteenth-century printers of Williamsburg—and all America—served that need at a time of great moment, when the destiny of the emerging ideals of political democracy, free speech, a free press, and freedom of conscience was uncertain. They had the privilege of enlisting their craftsmanship in the service of freedom, peace, and plenty, goals that continue to beckon mankind. To the printer’s art, then, we wholeheartedly render the tribute which J. Markland pronounced in _Typographia_, in 1730, as he saluted Governor Gooch and Printer Parks for giving Virginia its first press: “_Happy the Art, by which we learn Gloss of Errors to detect, The Vice of Habits to correct, And sacred Truths, from Falsehood to discern! By which we take a far-stretch’d View, And learn our Fathers Vertues to pursue, Their Follies to eschew._” _1730-1780_ [Illustration: Decorative footer.] [Illustration: Decorative header.] _The Master Printers of_ Williamsburg _1730-1780_ 1730-1750 _William Parks._ Printer and publisher in three English towns and in Annapolis before he opened the first printing office in Williamsburg in 1730; founded the _Virginia Gazette_ in 1736; died in 1750. 1751-1761 _William Hunter._ Probably learned printing as an apprentice to Parks, whose foreman he became; bought the printing office from Parks’s estate in 1751; was jointly with Franklin deputy postmaster-general for the colonies from 1753 until his death in 1761. 1761-1766 _Joseph Royle._ Born in England; became Hunter’s foreman about 1758 and married Hunter’s sister; co-legatee, with Hunter’s minor son, of the printing business; died in 1766. 1766-1773 _William Rind._ Came from Maryland to Williamsburg in 1766 on the invitation of Jefferson and other “hot Burgesses” who thought Royle too submissive to the governor; established a rival _Virginia Gazette_ and continued it until he died in 1773. 1766-1779 _Alexander Purdie._ Born and trained in Scotland; was foreman to Royle, whose will bequeathed him an interest in the business along with Royle’s minor son and William Hunter, Jr.; took John Dixon as partner, and himself stepped out when young Hunter came of age in 1774; established a new printing office and issued a third _Virginia Gazette_ until his death in 1779.