Aldus Manutius (1449-1515), scholar, editor, and printer, was the founder of the Aldine Press. From the spring of 1495, under Aldus's direction, the press undertook a vast and novel program of making the written remains of Greek antiquity widely and systematically available to the scholarly public of Renaissance Europe. In addition, Aldus printed many Latin and Italian texts in cheaper formats in the famous Aldine italic typeface, first used in 1500.

In commemoration of the quincentenary of Aldus's first publication, this study introduces the "prince of printers" in his various guises—as scholar, businessman, editor, and typographer. The beautifully reproduced illustrations are drawn largely from Aldines in the unrivaled collection of the British Library.

Dr. Martin Davies is head of incunabula at the British Library. He is also the editor of The Library.

Copublished with the British Library.

This title is out of print. Please look for it at your local libraries and/or used bookstores.