Theodore Low De Vinne

author

Theodore Low De Vinne

1828–1914

A leading American printer and typography writer of the 19th century, he helped raise printing from a trade into a respected craft. His books on type, bookmaking, and printing history still speak to readers interested in how books are made.

1 Audiobook

The Invention of Printing. A Collection of Facts and Opinions, Descriptive of Early Prints and Playing Cards, the Block-Books of the Fifteenth Century, the Legend of Lourens Janszoon Coster, of Haarlem, and the Work of John Gutenberg and His Associates

The Invention of Printing. A Collection of Facts and Opinions, Descriptive of Early Prints and Playing Cards, the Block-Books of the Fifteenth Century, the Legend of Lourens Janszoon Coster, of Haarlem, and the Work of John Gutenberg and His Associates

by Theodore Low De Vinne

About the author

Born in Stamford, Connecticut, on December 25, 1828, Theodore Low De Vinne became one of the most influential figures in American printing. He learned the trade early, worked in New York publishing, and eventually led the firm that became closely associated with high-quality book and magazine production.

De Vinne was known not only as a master printer but also as a clear, scholarly writer on typography and printing history. Reference sources describe him as one of the leading commercial printers of his day, and his work helped professionalize American printing while shaping standards of design and craftsmanship.

For readers today, he is especially notable as an author who wrote thoughtfully about the making of books themselves. His career sits at the meeting point of practical printing, literary culture, and the history of type.