William Caxton Father of English Printing

William Caxton – Encyclopedia Design

It is a curious fact that the production of the first English-language book took place on the continent, not in England. William Caxton (1422 – 1491) learned about the mystery of printing in the Low Countries, and it was in Bruges, he translated a French work, “The Tales of Troy,” through his printing press.

Misconceptions and Public Perception

Some history of printing states that this was because England regarded printing as the work of the Devil. Indeed, the artists and calligraphers bitterly opposed the new craft who transcribed and decorated the handwritten books. But the general public never regarded printing as the contrivance of the Devil. After all, some of the earliest printed works were commissioned by the Pope.

Caxton’s Apprenticeship and Early Career

Caxton did his first printing in Bruges because he found a master printer who would oversee his work there. That was Colard Mansion, a renowned artisan of his time. As soon as Caxton was sure of his technique, he bought a press and some type, returned to England, and set up his printery in a Westminster Abbey outbuilding.

Caxton’s Early Years and Business Ventures

William Caxton was born about 1422 in Kent. At 14, he was apprenticed to Robert Lange, a wealthy cloth merchant from the City of London who became a Lord Mayor a few years later. Historians speculate that when Large died in 1441, he left some money to young Caxton.

Caxton’s Travels and Linguistic Achievements

Some years later, Caxton travelled to Burgundy with the reputation of a talented but well-educated businessman and later moved to the Netherlands. Consequently, he held various offices equivalent to a modern consul in Burgundy and Antwerp, proving he was highly respected.

He was a high-energy and initiative man, and he found his official duties too light to challenge him. He translated a famous French work on the Trojan Wars into English to occupy his time.

Innovation of Printing

Caxton’s friends found his translation impressive, and he sought to share it with as many people as possible. However, creating manuscripts was time-consuming and costly, making it unaffordable for Caxton. This led him to consider the emerging printing practice, realizing that operating his press could be profitable.

He seems to have travelled to Cologne to master the printing techniques. This was challenging because the few printers there closely guarded their skills. They worked in secrecy, and it was rare for them to share their expertise. Caxton mentioned, “I have devoted myself and incurred significant expense to produce this book in print, as you can see here.”

Caxton then moved to Bruges, joining forces with Collard Mansion to fund a new printing operation. The first book they produced was Caxton’s own Tales of Troy, which consisted of only 351 pages printed on one side. It received positive feedback in England, encouraging Caxton to establish a printing shop in London.

Edward IV had married Elizabeth of Burgundy, whose sister, the Duchess Margaret of Burgundy, had been a friend and patron of Caxton on the Continent. Probably from family influence, Caxton received the immediate support of King Edward in the setup of his new venture. After a few trial efforts in the way of tracts and pamphlets, he printed “The Sayings of the Philosophers, translated from French by Earl Rivers, the Queen’s brother. This was in 1477.

Caxton’s Impact on English Literature

The following year, Caxton published an edition of Chaucer’s “Canterbury Tales,” an event of great significance in English Literary History. He died in 1491, but not before he printed 99 books in 14 years.

Although Caxton’s books have no claim to beauty, he was much interested in all he printed. Not only was he not a mere mechanical producer, but he also laboured as an author, translator, and editor. Publishing for the English market, undoubtedly with the view to seeking sales, his works were so well-read that very few survived.

He printed entirely in Black Letter type based on the old script. His books have no title pages, though some have prologues and colophons. (The End pieces give information about the composition and the printing date.)

At first, he had initial letters of his chapters and other decorative work done by hand, but later, he followed the continental practice of printing these sometimes in red.

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Caxton’s Printing Style and Legacy

Caxton played a key role in the Western world’s history by promoting literature and quality translations. Caxton chose to print English poetry and romance, unlike printers in the Lowlands, Germany, and Italy, which focused on Latin texts. His remarkable history blends business skills with a passion for reading, making him a notable figure in English Literature’s history.

Video: William Caxton: England’s First Printer

Additional Reading

Blades, W. (2014). The Life and Typography of William Caxton, England’s First Printer: With Evidence of His Typographical Connection with Colard Mansion, the Printer at Bruges. United Kingdom: Cambridge University Press.

Caxton’s Trace: Studies in the History of English Printing. (2006). United States: University of Notre Dame Press.

Hellinga, L. (2010). William Caxton and Early Printing in England. Kiribati: British Library.

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