Erhard Ratdolt and His Work at Venice is a concise scholarly study of the fifteenth‑century printer’s life and work in Venice.
Based on a talk given to the Bibliographical Society in 1893, it places Ratdolt in the broader world of early Italian printing and tracing how his Venice years shaped a lasting legacy in book production.
The work surveys the rise of Ratdolt alongside his Augsburg partners and situates his first Venetian printings in 1476, with a particular interest in astronomy and math texts. It also covers his return to Augsburg and how his Gothic and roman types, wood cuts, and initials contributed to both cities’ printing cultures. Rich with detail from plates, colophons, and a focused bibliography, the piece links Ratdolt to other important presses and to the dynamics of dating and misdating early printed works.
What you’ll experience
- A clear narrative of Ratdolt’s career from Augsburg to Venice and back
- Insight into how early printers worked, including type and illustration practices
- Connections to broader questions about the origins and dating of early Italian printing
- A curated bibliography and notes that illuminate key editions and plates
Ideal for readers of bibliographical history, early printing, and Venetian book culture who want a focused, readable account grounded in historical evidence.