Nicholas Jenson and the rise of Venetian publishing in Renaissance Europe
Chronicles the story of how printing came to Venice in the 15th century and transformed the Italian city into the most commercially advanced power in Europe, publishing a fifth of the continent's books only 40 years after Gutenberg developed moveable type. Examines the values and careers of printing's financial backers, and the printers themselves. Focuses on the immigrant French printer, Jenson, his design concerns and business activities, the transition from manuscript to printed page, William Morris' championing of his typefaces in the 19th century, and the significance of those typefaces today. Annotation(c) 2003 Book News, Inc., Portland, OR (booknews.com)