Charles Knight — William Caxton, the First English Printer a Biography

London, William Clowes & Sons, 1877. Leather. A copy of Charles Knight's biographical work on the diplomat, William Caxton. New edition. With an engraved frontispiece and a number of engraved vignette illustrations. William Caxton (c. 1415 – c. March 1492) was an English merchant, diplomat, writer and printer. He is thought to be the first English person to work as a printer and the first to introduce a printing press into England, which he did in 1476. He was also the first English retailer of printed books (his London contemporaries in the same trade were all Flemish, German or French). In a half calf binding with mottled paper boards and gilt title detailing to the spine. Externally, sound with slight rubbing, a few marks and a little loss to the extremities. The front joint is tender but still reasonably firm. Internally, the binding is firm with only the front endpaper loosening. The pages are generally bright and clean with only scattered spotting, and some discolouration to the endpapers. Very Good . Ill.: Unamed. Very Good .