Handbuch der Geschichte der Buchdruckerkunst. Erster Teil
 Erfindung. Verbreitung. Blüte. Verfall. 1450-1750.

by Carl Berendt Lorck

"Handbuch der Geschichte der Buchdruckerkunst. Erster Teil" by Carl Berendt Lorck is a historical account written in the late 19th century. The book focuses on the invention, spread, and evolution of the printing art from 1450 to 1750. It aims to provide a comprehensive overview of the historical development and significance of printing, emphasizing Johannes Gutenberg’s pivotal role in this transformative invention. The opening of the book serves as an introduction, detailing the author's intent to create a systematic manual covering the history of book printing. Lorck reflects on the absence of a concise, accessible handbook on this topic, despite the existence of various scholarly works that address separate aspects of printing history. Through a series of structured guidelines, he outlines the need for a coherent account encompassing the evolution of printing technology and its cultural implications over several centuries, setting a foundation for the in-depth exploration that will follow in the subsequent chapters.