THE PRINTERS, STATIONERS, AND BOOKBINDERS OF WESTMINSTER AND LONDON.
The Printers, Stationers, and Bookbinders of Westminster and London, 1470-1535. By E. Gordon Duff, MA. (Cambridge University Press. 5s. net.)—Mr. Duff tells us all that there is to be told on this subject, sometimes correcting even that famous expert in bibliography, William Blades. His volume, containing two sets of lectures delivered on the Sanders Foundation at Cambridge, will be invaluable to those who are studying the subject. The general reader may find it somewhat dull after he has passed beyond Caxton, De Words (who, however, is chiefly famous as Caxton's successor), and Richard Pynson. When we reach the third decade of the sixteenth century a new interest comes into the subject. From being literary and antiquarian, it becomes historical. Two printers, probably related to each other, Christopher and Hans van Reremond, started the business of printing and supplying the New Testament in English. The business went briskly on from 1525 to 1530, when Christopher was thrown into prison for the offence of selling these books, and died there. Hans came over to London and carried on the sale. Meanwhile Christopher's widow continued to print them. Mr. Duff tells us that though much has been written on this subject, "little is really known." One reason is obvious : a printer engaged in this business did his best to .keep his movements concealed. Mr. Duff has something to relate about early stationers, who were often binders also.
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