William Caxton

[printsmurf]

William Caxton - England's First Printer

William Caxton was born in Kent, possibly around 1422, and at the age of 16 came to London to become an apprentice to a mercer. He then moved to Bruges, the centre of the wool trade, where he eventually became a diplomat for the King. At the request of the Duchess of Burgundy, sister of Edward IV, he translated The Recuyell of the Historyes of Troye. In the 1470s Caxton spent time in Cologne where he learnt the art of printing. Returning to Bruges he set up a press and in 1474-1475 published his translation of The Recuyell, the first book to be printed in English. In 1476 he returned to England to set up a printing business. He settled in a house called St. Albans on the south side of Westminster Abbey's Lady Chapel and rented a shop. The following year he published the first English-language book to be printed in England, Dictes or Sayengis of the Philosophres. He later took additional premises in the Abbey Almonry, known as the Red Pale. Caxton was also a translator and publisher, exerting an important influence on English literature.  Caxton translated 24 books, some of them immensely long. By the time of his death, he had published about 100 items of various kinds.



The earliest surviving document printed by William Caxton. An indulgence granted by John, abbot of Abingdon, to Henry Langley, and Katherine his wife, 1476

[printsmurf]

Most of the Caxton images used are based on this engraving by R.H. Sommer, c.1921.

Other Caxton images

Caxton by J. Lockington
line engraving, probably 18th century



Unknown artist
line engraving, 18th century



after Bagford
line engraving, early 18th century



after Unknown artist
etching, late 18th century



by James Thomson (Thompson), published by Henry Fisher, after Thomas Griffiths
stipple engraving, published 1819



after Unknown artist
woodcut

[printsmurf]

William Caxton depicted in a stained-glass window in the East Crypt of the Guildhall, London

[printsmurf]

Cinderella Stamp   

[/url]

[printsmurf]

Scientific Inventions and Discoveries - Cigarette Card by R & J Hill dating from 1929

Caxton was card number 32 from 35



In colour

[printsmurf]

Same image as previous post, but in colour and on squarer card. Still from 1929.

[printsmurf]

The William Caxton Public House, Tenterden
c.1952





c.2010

Original pub sign



Pub sign as at closure.
 


The pub closed in lockdown and reopened as 'The Print House'

[printsmurf]

Whitbread Inn Signs card from 1951     Number 1 in a series of 4 - THE WILLIAM CAXTON




Also issued in a round cornered version

[printsmurf]

Tea Card issued by Ty.phoo in 1938 - series 'Interesting Events In British History'.   Number 11 was William Caxton
Interesting offer on the back of the card

[printsmurf]

1976 was the 500th anniversary of printing being introduced to Britain by William Caxton and to mark this most important Quincentenary the Printers' Charitable Corporation arranged with the Bonarth Pottery to produce a magnificent and unique commemorative plate.

The Caxton plate is in bone china, richly decorated in Derby Red, burnished gold and platinum. It has a handsome wide border based on a medieval tapestry in 15th century style, with Caxton's shop sign, The Red Pale, at the top.
It measures 10½ inches in diameter.

The issue was limited to 5000 plates, numbered on the back which also bears the Corporation's seal.






The wording on the plate is a copy of the First Book Advertisement in the English Language



Translation: 
"If it plese ony man spirituel or temporel to bye ony pyes of two and thre comemoracions of salisburi use enpryntid after the forme of this present lettre whiche ben wel and truly correct, late hym come to westmonester in to the almonesrye at the reed pale and he shal have them good chepe."

"Supplico stet cedula."    Latin ending    Pray don't tear down the advertisement.

[printsmurf]

Fantasy banknote used to promote the 18th Annual European Congress in 1988 of the International Bank Note Society



The same design used to promote the 20th Annual European Congress in 1990

[printsmurf]

William Caxton appears on a specimen banknote      Thomas De La Rue - William Caxton and Gutenberg Press - Intaglio Specimen Test Note

Particularly rare test note, even scarcer in this version with the serial number

[printsmurf]

William Caxton appeared on a  BRYMAY 'Redheads' matchbox cover from Australia.

[printsmurf]

French postcard from 1904

In a series of postcards 'Writing Through the Ages'  Number 9 was William Caxton

[printsmurf]

Caxton showing a first printing of his press to King Edward IV

[Daniel Maclise – 1851]