Printing and the Mind of Man

Last updated

Printing and the Mind of Man is a book first published in 1967 [1] and based on an exhibition in 1963. [2]

Contents

PMM, as it is usually abbreviated, is regarded as a standard bibliographical reference, and offers a survey of the impact of printed books on the development of Western civilization.

The IPEX Exhibition

The book developed from an exhibition put on at two locations to coincide with the 1963 International Printing Machinery and Allied Trades Exhibition (IPEX). The IPEX exhibition "foreshadowed the impending impact of electronics and presaged the demise of prepress mechanics and craft practices." It is regarded as marking a significant transition in printing. [3]

At the behest of typographer Stanley Morison it was decided to put together an exhibition of the contribution printing had made to the enlargement of human knowledge in connection with the IPEX. [4] A display at Earls Court concentrated on the technical side of printing, while a display at the British Museum looked more at fine printing. However, both displays had the quite novel intention of promoting the study of books for their role in advancing factual knowledge, rather than for their aesthetics.

Ian Fleming, who lent 40 books from his library, was among the private collectors who contributed to the exhibition. [5] The Fleming Collection, central to the exhibit, is now at the Lilly Library of the Indiana University Bloomington. [6] A detailed review of the negotiations that resulted in the Lilly Library's acquisition, "Books That Had Started Something," provides copies of correspondence between the Fleming estate and the library. [7] The Fleming Collection was an attempt to gather together, in first editions, the original contributions of the scientists and practical workers, the total body of whose work has been responsible for the modern revolution. [8]

The exhibition catalogue, [9] which was printed by Oxford University Press ("[London]: F.W. Bridges; obtainable from the British Museum"), edited by John Carter, Stanley Morison, Percy H. Muir and others, and titled: Catalogue of a display of printing mechanisms and printed materials arranged to illustrate the history of Western civilization and the means of the multiplication of literary texts since the 15th century, organised in connection with the eleventh International Printing Machinery and Allied Trades Exhibition, under the title Printing and the Mind of Man, assembled at the British Museum and at Earls Court, London, 16–27 July 1963, [10] [11] might be considered the pre-first edition of PMM.

PMM as book

A book-length edition, revised and enlarged, was printed at Cambridge University Press and published in 1967 by Cassell in London and Holt, Rinehart & Winston in New York. This first book edition was entitled 'Printing and the Mind of Man: A Descriptive Catalogue Illustrating the Impact of Print on the Evolution of Western Civilization During Five Centuries. It was edited by John Carter and Percy Muir and expanded upon the theme of the impact of printing on human thought. [12] It was published in Germany in 1968 [13] and in Japan in 1977. [14]

A second revised edition was published in 1983 by Karl Pressler in Munich ( ISBN   3-9800047-3-2). [15] [16]

The Winter, 2023 issue of The Book Collector provided a sixty-year retrospective. [17] It included a review of correspondence between Muir and Carter by James Fleming. [18]

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Great Exhibition</span> 1st worlds fair in 1851 in London, England

The Great Exhibition of the Works of Industry of All Nations, also known as the Great Exhibition or the Crystal Palace Exhibition, was an international exhibition that took place in Hyde Park, London, from 1 May to 15 October 1851. It was the first in a series of world's fairs, exhibitions of culture and industry that became popular in the 19th century. The event was organised by Henry Cole and Prince Albert, husband of Victoria, Queen of the United Kingdom.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Bibliography</span> Organized listing of books and the systematic description of them as objects

Bibliography, as a discipline, is traditionally the academic study of books as physical, cultural objects; in this sense, it is also known as bibliology. English author and bibliographer John Carter describes bibliography as a word having two senses: one, a list of books for further study or of works consulted by an author ; the other one, applicable for collectors, is "the study of books as physical objects" and "the systematic description of books as objects".

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Book collecting</span> Activity of collecting books

Book collecting is the collecting of books, including seeking, locating, acquiring, organizing, cataloging, displaying, storing, and maintaining whatever books are of interest to a given collector. The love of books is bibliophilia, and someone who loves to read, admire, and a person who collects books is often called a bibliophile.

Private press publishing, with respect to books, is an endeavor performed by craft-based expert or aspiring artisans, either amateur or professional, who, among other things, print and build books, typically by hand, with emphasis on design, graphics, layout, fine printing, binding, covers, paper, stitching, and the like.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Stanley Morison</span> British typographer (1889–1967)

Stanley Arthur Morison was a British typographer, printing executive and historian of printing. Largely self-educated, he promoted higher standards in printing and an awareness of the best printing and typefaces of the past.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Title page</span> Page at or near the front of a book on which its publishing information is displayed

The title page of a book, thesis or other written work is the page at or near the front which displays its title, subtitle, author, publisher, and edition, often artistically decorated.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Miniature book</span> Very small book

A miniature book is a very small book. Standards for what may be termed a miniature rather than just a small book have changed through time. Today, most collectors consider a book to be miniature only if it is 3 inches or smaller in height, width, and thickness, particularly in the United States. Many collectors consider nineteenth-century and earlier books of 4 inches to fit in the category of miniatures. Book from 3–4 inches in all dimensions are termed macrominiature books. Books less than 1 inch in all dimensions are called microminiature books. Books less than 1/4 inch in all dimensions are known as ultra-microminiature books.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Block book</span> Early Western block-printed book

Block books or blockbooks, also called xylographica, are short books of up to 50 leaves, block printed in Europe in the second half of the 15th century as woodcuts with blocks carved to include both text (usually) and illustrations. The content of the books was nearly always religious, aimed at a popular audience, and a few titles were often reprinted in several editions using new woodcuts. Although many had believed that block books preceded Gutenberg's invention of movable type in the first part of the 1450s, it now is accepted that most of the surviving block books were printed in the 1460s or later, and that the earliest surviving examples may date to about 1451.

John Waynflete Carter was an English writer, diplomat, bibliographer, book-collector, antiquarian bookseller and president of the Bibliographical Society in 1968. He was recognised as one of the most important figures in the Anglo-American book world. He was the great-grandson of Canon T. T. Carter

The International League of Antiquarian Booksellers is a non-profit umbrella organization of bookseller associations, with its legal location in Geneva, Switzerland. It federates 22 National Associations of Antiquarian Booksellers, representing nearly 2000 dealers in 32 countries. Antiquarian booksellers affiliated to the League adhere to the ILAB Code of Ethics, and the League aims to server as a global network for the rare book trade.

The Book Collector is a London-based journal that deals with all aspects of the book.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Barbara Howard (artist)</span> Canadian artist

Helen Barbara Howard was a Canadian painter, wood-engraver, drafter, bookbinder and designer who produced work consistently throughout her life, from her graduation in 1951 from the Ontario College of Art until her unexpected death in 2002.

The Rampant Lions Press was a fine letterpress printing firm in Britain, operating from 1924 to 2008. The firm was founded by Will Carter, publishing its first book in 1936, and was continued by his son, Sebastian Carter, from 1966.

Colin Ellis Franklin, FSA was an English writer, bibliographer, book-collector and antiquarian bookseller.

The International Printing Machinery and Allied Trades Exhibition (IPEX) was the longest running printing and graphic arts trade show in the English-speaking world. The trade show was held every four years except for the final show, which was held after three years. IPEX was an international event, serving both the UK and the international print industry.

James Roland Fleming was an English author and editor of the journal The Book Collector from 2018 to 2024. He was the son of Richard Fleming who served in Scottish regiments during World War II and nephew to spy author Ian Fleming.

The Queen Anne Press is a small publisher.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Alfred F. Johnson</span> English academic librarian, bibliographer, curator and expert in typography

Alfred Forbes Johnson, MC was an English academic librarian, bibliographer, curator, and expert in typography. He was Deputy Keeper of Printed Books at the British Museum. He is author of many bibliographical reference works, and the standard Encyclopaedia of Typefaces.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">David A. Randall</span> American book dealer and librarian

David Anton Randall was an American book dealer, librarian and bibliographic scholar. He was head of Scribner's rare book department from 1935 to 1956, librarian of the Lilly Library and Professor of Bibliography at Indiana University. Randall was responsible for the sale of two copies of the Gutenberg Bible. As a practitioner of bibliology with a bibliophiliac addiction, a raconteur of history of books, and an avid collector, he developed a keen appreciation for books as physical objects—including the tasks of collecting, cataloging, finding and preserving them.

Percy Horace Muir (1894–1979) was a "distinguished" English antiquarian bookseller, book collector and bibliographer. He became "one of the most respected figures" in the rare books scene, serving as president of both the Antiquarian Booksellers Association and the International League of Antiquarian Booksellers.

References

  1. ↑ International Printing Machinery and Allied Trades Exhibition London, England. (1963: 1967. Printing and the Mind of Man : A Descriptive Catalogue Illustrating the Impact of Print on the Evolution of Western Civilization during Five Centuries. Edited by John Carter and Percy H. Muir. First edition. London, New York: Cassell; Holt, Rinehart & Winston
  2. ↑ Association of British Manufacturers of Printers’ Machinery, British Museum, and International Printing Machinery and Allied Trades Exhibition London, England) (1963 : 1963. Printing and the Mind of Man : Assembled at the British Museum and Earls Court, London, 16-27 July 1963. [London]: F.W. Bridges & Sons and the Association of British Manufacturers of Printers’ Machinery (Proprietary) Ltd.
  3. ↑ Wallis L. Ipex charts the progress of print. Printweek. 2006:25.
  4. ↑ Malcolm, Sandy."PPM and Scribner's Book Store Revisited." The Book Collector 73 (no4) Winter, 2024: 653-660.
  5. ↑ Hayward, John (1964)."Commentary: Ian Fleming and 'Printing and the Mind of Man' " in The Book Collector 13 no 4 (winter): 431-433.
  6. ↑ Bongiovanni, Domenica (November 2, 2017). "Why this James Bond collection is in Indiana and the secrets you'll find". IndyStar. Retrieved July 18, 2021.
  7. ↑ Silver, Joel. (2017). "Books That Had Started Something." The Book Collector 66 (no1) Spring: 95-129
  8. ↑ Lilly Library (Indiana University, Bloomington). The Ian Fleming Collection of 19th-20th Century Source Material Concerning Western Civilization together with the Originals of the James Bond-007 Tales. [4], 3-53 p. : ill., ports., facsims. ; 28 cm. [Lilly Library], [Bloomington, IN] [1971].
  9. ↑ International Printing Machinery and Allied Trades Exhibition London, England) (1963:, and British museum Dept of printed books King’s library. 1963. Printing and the Mind of Man, Assembled at the British Museum and at Earls Court, London, 16-27 July 1963.
  10. ↑ Barker, Nicolas. "Printing and the Mind of Man." 2013. The Book Collector 62 (3) Autumn: 371–83.
  11. ↑ Haley, William. 2017. “Sir William Haley Reviews Printing and the Mind of Man. A Descriptive Catalogue.” The Book Collector. August.
  12. ↑ “‘Printing and the Mind of Man.’” Librarium : Zeitschrift der Schweizerischen Bibliophilen-Gesellschaft = Revue de la Société Suisse des Bibliophiles 10, no. 2 (1967): 107-.
  13. ↑ Bücher, die Die Welt Verändern (Printing and the Mind of Man, Dt. - Ausgew. u. Hrsg. v. John Carter u. Percy H. Muir unter Mitw v. Nicolas Barker [U.A.] Eingel. Durch E. Essay v. Denys Hay. Hrsg. D. Dt. Ausg.: Kurt Busse. Dt. V. Peter de Mendelsschn [U.A.]). 1968.
  14. ↑ John Carter, Percy H. Muir et al., Printing and the mind of man : a descriptive catalogue illustrating the impact of print on the evolution of Western civilization during five centuries , Tokyo: Yushodo, 1977. worldcat.org. Retrieved 1 June 2024.
  15. ↑ Carter, John, Nicolas Barker, Peter Amelung, and Percy H. Muir. 1983. Printing and the Mind of Man. 2. ed. rev. and enl. München: K. Pressler.
  16. ↑ Librairie Historique Jean Clavreuil. 2022. A Selection of Books Described in Printing and the Mind of Man : First and Early Editions. Paris ; London: Librairie Historique Jean Clavreuil.
  17. ↑ Fleming, James. (2023). "Printing and the Mind of Man." The Book Collector 72 no.4 (winter): 619-623.
  18. ↑ Fleming, James. "Getting the Show on the Road or How to Borrow the World's Most Valuable Books for Ten Days." The Book Collector 72 (no 4) Winter 2023: 667-676.

Further reading

This page is based on this Wikipedia article
Text is available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 license; additional terms may apply.
Images, videos and audio are available under their respective licenses.