THE IMPACT OF PRINTING

The object of study of the volume The Coming of the Book: the Impact of Printing by Lucien Febvre and Henri-Jean Martin consists of analyzing the changes occurred in the process of thinking and the working conditions of religious and secular scholars with the emergence of printed books. The authors emphasize causes and effects as well as the needs that were satisfied by the printed book during 300 years, from the Renaissance to the early stages of the Romantic period.

According to Febvre and Martin, the book was conceived after the invention of firearms and became one of the most important agents that promoted the ideas of representative thinkers. As the authors point out, an early need for printed materials emerged out of the universities from the 12^th and 13^th centuries as professors required texts for their courses, works of reference and commentaries. The printing system was introduced under the auspices of the university in Paris, and it was linked to the progress of paper –material that replaced parchment and was used for official purposes in France by the end of the 13^th Century. Three essential characteristics of the printing technique are mentioned: “moveable type cast in metal; a fatty based ink; and the press” (50). Willem J. Blaeu introduced many alterations to the press in Holland, making it stronger in its construction.

In the early years, four main styles of script were employed. For instance, the black letter was used in scholastic texts; the larger size gothic letter appeared in ecclesiastic books; the “bastard” gothic could be found in vernacular luxury manuscripts and in Latin texts; and finally the roman letter which became the normal script for printed books was spread out in Europe within a century after printing (79-83).

Among other issues developed by Febvre and Martin are the visual appearance of the book, the working conditions of journeymen and masters, and several uses of the printed volume. With regards to the visual look of the book, it is mentioned the importance of the title page –the purpose of which consisted of indicating the civil status of a book-, the significance of illustration, and the use of binding as a means of preservation. Other chapters explore the moral and functioning circumstances in which journeymen (printers) and masters (booksellers and publishers) developed their careers. Journeymen printers, for instance, distinguished themselves as a peculiar group, spending long hours in the shop and sharing meals and difficulties. Many journeymen’s agitations took place in the 16^th, 17^th and 18^th centuries in an attempt to secure working rights and increases in labor wages (135). On the other hand, booksellers may have combined both literary and profit interests as in the case of the so-called “philosopher-bookseller” of the Enlightenment. Even if interested in promoting morality, reason and knowledge, booksellers often did publish scandalous books that would sell better.  

In the last chapters, Febvre and Martin present other attention-grabbing points. Here there is an emphasis on the importance of the printed literature in promoting history, knowledge of Latin and other languages, spirituality, religious propaganda, moralizing narratives, and standardization of grammar and vocabulary. During the period of the Enlightenment, there was an increase in the titles published as well as an improvement in the technical aspects of the production and the appearance of publications. There emerged the importance of the author’s rights and the legal recognition of copyright. The authors give us an overview of specific issues related to the development of the book-business in Italy, Germany, England, France, Holland, and the Americas, among other countries, and they also dedicate a few pages to the emergence of book fairs like the Frankfurt fair where catalogues were first introduced. Lastly, Febvre and Martin refer to the question of censorship leading to the existence of an underground book trade.