This paper is about the printing of incunabula in the old medieval cities of Oxford and St. Albans. The former was a centre of learning, the latter a centre of religion. Caxton, who lived and worked in Westminster, brought the craft of book printing from the continent and set up the first press in England. By far the most important part of the printing was done in London, although it is true that at certain times France, the Low Countries and Switzerland made important contributions to the English book market. Moreover a variety of centres in England such as Oxford, St. Albans, Canterbury, York and Cambridge were responsible for some printing. Nevertheless their output was small and many presses went bankrupt. The first presses were founded by outstanding craftsmen trying to serve the needs of the market and assuming all the risks of production and sale. However, printing in England can only be considered against the background of trade with the Continent. The name of the first English printer varies from Theodoric to Dietrich1 Rood but the same person is meant. Thomas Hunt and the schoolmaster of St. Alban’s seem to be the “exceptions to the rule that printers in the British Isles were French, Netherlandish or German by birth, until Andrew Myllar began to print in Edinburgh and John Rastell in London”2. Oxford University Press is today one of the finest publishing houses in the world. It dates back to 1585, when “printing (there) became firmly established”3. However, there existed two presses long before that date and there was a press in St. Albans for a short time, too. [...]
Table of Contents
1. Introduction
2. The beginning of book printing in England
3. The printing of incunabula in Oxford
3.1. The City of Oxford and its surroundings
3.2. The printer and his partners in Oxford
3.3. The printings from Oxford
4. The printing of incunabula in St. Albans
4.1. The City of St. Albans and its surroundings
4.2. The press in St. Albans
4.3. The printings from St. Albans
5. The bankruptcy of both presses
6. Further attempts to establish a press at Oxford
7. Final remarks
Objectives and Research Focus
This paper examines the early history of incunabula printing in the English cities of Oxford and St. Albans during the late 15th century. It explores the operational challenges, economic realities, and eventual failure of these early printing presses in competition with London and continental printers.
- The historical context of the introduction of printing to England via Caxton.
- A comparative analysis of the printing activities in Oxford and St. Albans.
- The relationship between university/monastic influence and the commercial viability of printing.
- Reasons for the bankruptcy of these early regional presses.
- The shift from Latin academic texts to vernacular literature as a survival strategy.
Excerpt from the Book
3.1. The City of Oxford and its surroundings
Oxford seems to have been mainly disregarded by the Roman conquerors, as the first evidence, not only of the existence of Oxford but also of its significance, comes from the Anglo-Saxon Chronicle where it is stated that Edward, took control of "London and Oxford and the lands obedient to those cities". Oxford had clearly developed into an important town due to its location. A place significant both politically, because it indicated the boundaries of the two kingdoms of Mercia and Wessex, and commercially because it lay by the rivers Cherwell and Thames.
A new fortified town was then founded no longer attached to the early Minster, the northern gate of this reinforcement almost certainly being on the site of what is one of the oldest buildings in Oxford today, St Michael's church tower. This new town of Oxford dates from the early 10th century. The municipality of Oxford had by no means a non-violent life. At least two events of a bloody nature took place. The old church of St Frideswide was the site of a massacre of Danes, which in turn caused the town to be pillaged in the years 1009 and 1013.
The unification of England indicated the end of Oxford’s military significance. At the time of the Norman Conquest Oxford had become a well urbanised town. As elsewhere, the turmoil that came in the wake of the Norman Conquest also seriously affected Oxford. It is fair to assume that the town tried to defend itself against the advancing Normans and this might account for the hard times it endured in later years. The Domesday Book records the demolition of much of the town.
Summary of Chapters
1. Introduction: Provides an overview of the arrival of book printing in England and identifies the central focus on early printing activities in Oxford and St. Albans.
2. The beginning of book printing in England: Outlines the development of printing technology in Europe and the specific conditions that allowed William Caxton to establish the first press in Westminster.
3. The printing of incunabula in Oxford: Examines the origins of the Oxford press, the role of local printers and academic partners, and the specific texts produced during this period.
4. The printing of incunabula in St. Albans: Investigates the independent press at St. Albans, its connections to the local abbey, and the unique characteristics of its output.
5. The bankruptcy of both presses: Analyzes the economic factors and competition from London and abroad that led to the collapse of the printing operations in Oxford and St. Albans.
6. Further attempts to establish a press at Oxford: Reviews subsequent, largely unsuccessful efforts to resume printing activities in Oxford in the early 16th century.
7. Final remarks: Summarizes the difficulties faced by provincial presses and reflects on the commercial risks of early book production in the 15th century.
Keywords
Incunabula, Oxford, St. Albans, William Caxton, Theodoric Rood, Early printing, Book trade, 15th century, Scholastic printing, Bankruptcy, Printing press, English history, University press.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the core subject of this academic paper?
The paper examines the establishment, development, and eventual failure of the first printing presses in the medieval English cities of Oxford and St. Albans during the late 15th century.
What are the primary thematic areas covered?
The work covers the historical background of printing in England, the role of specific printers like Theodoric Rood, the influence of university and monastic demand, and the economic pressures of the book trade.
What is the central research question?
The paper investigates why these early provincial presses were unable to sustain operations, focusing on the lack of a sufficient commercial market and intense competition.
Which scientific methods are employed?
The research is based on historical analysis, drawing on bibliographical records, contemporary chronicles, and scholarly literature regarding the history of the book in Britain.
What content is addressed in the main chapters?
The main chapters detail the historical development of the cities of Oxford and St. Albans, identify the printers involved, catalog the output of these presses, and analyze the financial reasons for their closure.
Which keywords characterize this work?
Key terms include incunabula, Theodoric Rood, printing history, 15th-century trade, and regional presses in England.
How does the author explain the sudden shift toward English-language texts?
The author argues that printing English texts—such as the "Liber festivalis"—was likely a desperate "panic reaction" or a failed attempt to capture a new market when their initial academic Latin products proved commercially unviable.
What is the significance of the year 1486 in this context?
1486 is identified as a "fatal" year that saw the closure of both the Oxford and St. Albans presses, marking the end of these initial regional attempts at professional printing in those locations.
- Quote paper
- Michael Gärtner (Author), 2003, The Incunabala print from Oxford and St. Albans, Munich, GRIN Verlag, https://www.grin.com/document/21216
