TWO PRINTERS OF VENICE

TWO PRINTERS OF VENICE: NICOLAS JENSON AND ALDUS MANUTIUS

Printing with movable type quickly spread from Germany to Italy, the intellectual and artistic center of Renaissance Europe. By 1464, less
than ten years after Gutenberg finished printing his Bible, the first printing press was established near Rome. Five years later the first book was printed in Venice, which was then Europe's leading commercial city.

In 1470, Frenchman Nicolas Jenson established the second Venetian press and by the following year at least six printers were active in
Venice. The ensuing competition forced many printers out of business. To lower the costs of production and distribution, Jenson formed a syndicate made up of his wealthy merchant backers as well as a group
of publishers, distributors and booksellers.

His model was followed by Aldus Manutius. Specializing in classical Greek authors, Aldus was the first great scholar-printer. Many of the works he edited and printed had never been published before. In addition, he revolutionized printing by creating the first modern book. These libelli portatiles or "portable little books" of both Greek and
Latin classics established a standard of scholarship and affordability
that finally allowed readers the ability to own and study critical editions of significant texts.

Curated by Bruce Cammack,
Fabricated by Lyn Stoll
June 2002-SWC

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