Handbuch der Geschichte der Buchdruckerkunst. Erster Teil Erfindung. Verbreitung. Blüte. Verfall. 1450-1750.

From the mid‑fourteenth century onward, the art of printing reshaped how ideas travelled across Europe, and this compact handbook walks listeners through that transformative era. It begins with Gutenberg’s breakthrough, follows the rapid spread of movable‑type presses, and charts the flourishing and eventual decline of early printing houses up to the mid‑eighteenth century. The narrative stays clear and chronological, offering vivid snapshots of key workshops, technological tweaks, and the cultural ripple effects that turned printed pages into a new kind of public light.

The author, a lifelong student of typography, assembled the work from decades of research and scattered articles, then wove them into a single, organized guide. An alphabetic jump table makes navigation swift, while concise chapters group developments by country and period, letting both scholars and curious listeners find exactly what they need. Rather than a lavishly illustrated tome, this version favors practical insight, making the complex story of early book‑making both approachable and engaging for anyone eager to understand the roots of today’s printed world.