Shakspere & Typography (eBook)

William Blades (1824-1890), a noteworthy figure in the world of printing and bibliographical scholarship, was an English printer and book collector with a profound enthusiasm for the history of his craft. His erudite investigations into the life and work of the pioneering printer William Caxton cemented his reputation as a meticulous and passionate historian of typography. Blades' scholarly endeavors are exemplified in one of his salient works, 'The Life and Typography of William Caxton, England's First Printer' (1861-1863), a comprehensive study that remains an invaluable resource for students of early printing to this day. His literary style is characterized by meticulous research and a clear, systematic presentation of historical facts, underscoring his expertise and dedication to typographic history. Moreover, his examination of the Bard's relation to printing, specifically through his book 'Shakspere & Typography' (1872), illustrates Blades' interdisciplinary interests, which seamlessly bridged Elizabethan literature and the material aspects of book production. These endeavors reflect only a part of Blades' extensive contribution to bibliographic scholarship and his continuing influence in the field.