Robert Hoe

author

Robert Hoe

1839–1909

A leading figure in the printing world of the late 19th century, he helped keep R. Hoe & Company at the forefront of press manufacturing while also becoming a major rare-book collector. He moved easily between industry and the arts, helping found institutions that celebrated books, printing, and culture in New York.

1 Audiobook

A short history of the printing press and of the improvements in printing machinery from the time of Gutenberg up to the present day

A short history of the printing press and of the improvements in printing machinery from the time of Gutenberg up to the present day

by Robert Hoe

About the author

Born in New York City on March 10, 1839, and dying in London on September 22, 1909, he was an American businessman best known for leading R. Hoe & Company after his father, Richard March Hoe. Under his leadership, the firm remained one of the most prominent makers of printing presses.

He was also deeply involved in the world of books and collecting. He served as an organizer and the first president of the Grolier Club, and he was one of the founders of the Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York. His interests went well beyond business: he collected rare books, manuscripts, silver, miniatures, and other art objects on a remarkable scale.

His legacy also includes his own writing and editorial work on printing and book arts. Among the works associated with him are Bookbinding as a Fine Art, A Short History of the Printing Press, and an edition of Maberly's Print Collector.