Title

Typographical Antiquities

Heading

Pioneering the Patriot

Description

William Caxton remained a nonentity for almost 300 years after his death. Attention was drawn to him by Conyers Middleton’s 29-page Dissertation concerning the Origin of Printing in England (1735) and John Lewis’s biography of Caxton of 1737. Typographical Antiquities (1749), by the antiquary Joseph Ames (1689-1759), was a seminal record of printing in England and Caxton’s place in it. Ames covered English printing up until 1600. He devoted far more space to Caxton (75 pages) than to any other printer discussed. Ames listed Caxton’s books and transcribed his prologues and epilogues. Importantly, he was the first bibliographer to reproduce Caxton’s typefaces and to date books by the type used.

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Author

Joseph Ames

Place of Publication

London

Publisher

W. Faden

Date of Publication

1749

Format

4to

Century

18th

Illustrations

Engraving