Chapter I: Front Matter

Transcriber's Note:

Apparent typographical errors have been corrected.

Italics are indicated by _underscores_. Small capitals have been replaced by full capitals.

One diacritic, superimposed on a 'p' and which may not display properly in all applications, has been removed.

THE OLD PRINTER AND THE MODERN PRESS.

BY CHARLES KNIGHT.

"Plus on lit, plus on lira; plus il faut, plus il faudra des livres."
_Histoire des Français des divers états._

LONDON: JOHN MURRAY, ALBEMARLE STREET. 1854.

+ LONDON: PRINTED BY W. CLOWES AND SONS, STAMFORD STREET, AND CHARING CROSS.

TO CHARLES DICKENS, ONE OF THE MOST EARNEST LABOURERS IN THAT POPULAR LITERATURE WHICH ELEVATES A PEOPLE, THIS VOLUME IS AFFECTIONATELY INSCRIBED.

_April 13th, 1854._

In 1844 I wrote, and published in my series of 'The Weekly Volume,' WILLIAM CAXTON, A BIOGRAPHY. That little work sold as largely as any of the collection. It will not be reprinted, as I have cancelled the stereotype plates.

In the present work I have remodelled that biography; rendering it a more compact narrative of the state of knowledge before the invention of printing, of the personal history of the man who brought the invention to England, and of the nature of his efforts to diffuse information amongst his countrymen. This account forms the FIRST PART of this volume.

The SECOND PART embraces a very broad view of the PROGRESS OF THE PRESS to our own day, especially in relation to the important subject of CHEAP POPULAR LITERATURE.

In treating of the remarkable revolution of our times in the prices of books, I cannot avoid incidentally noticing some of my own labours in that direction. I have done so as slightly as possible; and, I trust, in the impartial spirit of an honest chronicler.

CONTENTS.

PART I.

CHAPTER I.

The Weald of Kent—Caxton's School-days—French disused—English taught —Variations in English—Books before Printing—Libraries—Transcribers— Books for the Great—Book Trade—No Books for the People—Changes produced by Printing Page 1

CHAPTER II.

The Mercer's Apprentice—His Book-knowledge—Commerce in Books—Schools in London—City Apprentices—City Pageants—Spread of English Language— English Writers—Chaucer—Gower—Lydgate—The Minstrels—National Literature 19

CHAPTER III.

Caxton abroad—Caxton's mercantile pursuits—Restrictions on Trade— Caxton's Commission—Merchants' Marks—Beginnings of Printing—Playing Cards—Wood-engraving—Block-books—Moveable Types—Guttenberg— Guttenberg's Statue—Festival at Mentz 44

CHAPTER IV.

The Court of Burgundy—Caxton a Translator—Literature of Chivalry— Feudal Times—Caxton at the Ducal Court—Did Caxton print at Bruges— Edward the Fugitive—The new Art 62

CHAPTER V.

Rapidity of Printing—Who the first English Printer—Caxton the first English Printer—First English Printed Book—Difficulties of the first Printers—Ancient Bookbinding—The Printer a Publisher—Conditions of Cheapness in Books 85

CHAPTER VI.

The Press at Westminster—Theological Books—Character of Caxton's Press—The Troy Book—The Game of the Chess 109

CHAPTER VII.

Female Manners—Lord Rivers—Popular History—Popular Science—Popular Fables—Popular Translations—The Canterbury Tales—Statutes—Books of Chivalry—Caxton's last days 125

CHAPTER VIII.

The Chapel—The Companions—Increase of Readers—Books make Readers— Caxton's Types—Wynkyn's Dream—The first Paper-mill 153

APPENDIX 167

PART II.

CHAPTER I.

Cheap Popular Literature—Conditions of Cheapness—Popular Literature of Elizabeth's reign—Who were the Readers 179

CHAPTER II.

Imperfect Civilisation—Reading during the Civil Wars—Reading after the Restoration—French Romances—First London Catalogue, 1680—Authors and Booksellers—Subscription Books—Books in Numbers—The Canvassing System 197

CHAPTER III.

Periodical Literature—Prices of Books—18th Century—Two Classes of Buyers—The Magazines—Collections of the Poets—The Circulating Library—Cheap Book-Clubs 218

CHAPTER IV.

Continued dearness of Books—Useful Knowledge Society—Modern Epoch of Cheapness—Demand and Supply—The Printing-machine—The Paper-machine— Revival of Woodcutting 238

CHAPTER V.

London Catalogue, 1816-1851—Annual Catalogues, 1828, 1853—Classes of Books, 1816-1851—Periodicals, 1831, 1853—Aggregate amount of Book-trade—Collections and Libraries—International Copyright—Readers in the United States—Irish National School-books 260

CHAPTER VI.

Cheap Fiction—Penny Periodicals 277

CHAPTER VII.

Degrees of Readers—General Improvement—Newspaper Press—Newspaper Press National—Agricultural Readers—General desire for Amusement— Supply of real Knowledge 286

CHAPTER VIII.

Free Libraries—In Towns—In Rural Districts—Influences of the best Books 303