John Johnson (1777–1848) worked for a private press at Lee Priory, Kent, which published limited editions of poetry, prose and pamphlets, but was not financially successful. Moving to London in 1824, Johnson produced this two-volume work on printing, which had become a popular topic in the late eighteenth and early nineteenth centuries. As with Hansard's Typographia of 1825 (also available in this series), his knowledge of the history of printing is largely derived from secondary works, particularly those of Dibdin. The work was published in several formats, and contemporary reviewers noted Johnson's highly ornate typography and use of engravings more than the contents. Volume 1, in which Johnson was assisted by Richard Thomson, Librarian of the London Institution, covers the history of printing. It lists printers working in England up to the end of the sixteenth century, with bibliographical details of titles known to have been published by them.
Preface; The origin, rise, and progress, of the typographic art; The introduction and progress of the art in Great Britain; William Caxton; John Leftou, and William Machlinia; Wynkyn de Worde; Richard Pynson; Julian Notary; William Faques; Henry Pepwell; Peter Treveris; James Nicholson; John Redman; Christopher Truthall; Thomas Godfray; John Skot; John Rastell; Robert Copland; William Copland; Robert Wyer; Robert Redman; Elizabeth Redman; Richard Bankes; Laurence Andrewe; John Reynes; Thomas Berthelet; Richard Fawkes; John Haukins; William Rastell; John Toye; John Byddell; Thomas Gibson; John Gowghe; William Marshall; Roger Latham; Richard Grafton; Edward Whitchurch; Hery, or Henry Tab; William Baldwin; Thomas Petit; John Wayland; George Joye, or Joy; Andrew Hester; Michael Lobley; John Mayler; William Middleton; John Herforde; The widow of John Herforde; William Harford, or Herforde; Thomas Raynald; Robert Toy; Richard Lant; William Bonham; Leonard Askell; Nicholas Bourman; Reynold Wolfe; Joan Wolfe; William Follingham, or Follington; John Day; Richard Day; Timothy Rider; Henry Disle; Robert Redborne; William Seres; Henry Smyth; Roger Carr; Nicholas Hyll; Richard Wyer; John Wyer; Richard Jugge; John Jugge; Joan Jugge; John Walley; Robert Walley; William Powell; Hugh Singleton; Richard Kele; Anthony Scoloker; Humphrey Powell; Robert Stoughton; Gualter Lynne; William Hill; Robert Crowley; John Kynge; William Tilly; Thomas Gualtier; John Tysdall; Stephen Myerdman; John Case; John Turk; Abraham Veale; John Wight; John Cawood; William Riddell; Rowland Hall; Richard Tottel; Roger Madeley; Robert Caley; John Kingston; Henry Sutton; Thomas Marshe; Thomas Geminie, or Gemini; Anthony Kidson, or Kytson; Thomas Powell, or Powel; James Burrel; Owen Rogers, or Ap Rogers; William Norton; Richard Adams; Richard Harrison; David Moptid, and John Mather; John Sampson, alias Awdeley; John Alde; Thomas Hacket; Ralph, or Rafe Newbery; Francis Coldock; William Griffith; Lucas Harrison, or Harryson; Thomas Colwell; Humphrey Toy; Henry Wykes; Gerard Dewes; Henry Denham; Richard Serlls; Henry Bynneman; Thomas Purfoot; Alexander Lacy; Thomas East, Est, or Este; Richard Watkins; James Roberts; William How resided in Fleet Street; Richard Jones, Jhones, or Johnes; Henry Middleton; William Williamson; Thomas Vautrollier; Christopher and Robert Barker; John Gharlewood; Thomas Woodcock; William Hoskins; John Shepard; Thomas Dawson; Nicasius Yetsweirt; Charles Yetsweirt; Charles Yetsweirt; Hugh Jackson; Andrew Maunsell; Robert Walde-grave; George Bishop; John Harrion; Abel Jeffs; Thomas Scarlet; Henry Bamford; Richard Webster; Edward Aggas; John Wolfe; Roger Ward; Thomas Charde; Edward White; William Bartlet, or Barthelet; William Carter; Henry Marshe; Richard Yardley and Peter Short; Ninian Newton; Robert Robison, Robertson, or Robinson; Edmund Bollifant; John Jackson; Walter Venge; Simon Waterson; Thomas Lust; John Windet; George Robinson; Richard Robinson; Edward Allde, or Alde; Thomas Orwin; Richard Field; Toby Cook; William White; Robert Dexter; William Kerney, or Kearney; Robert Bourne and John Porter; John Danter; William Ponsonby; William Saunderson; William Barley; Thomas Salisbury, Ralph Blowar, John Bowen, and John Busbie; Richard Boyle; Thomas Creed; Adam Islip; Gabriel Simpson; Valentine Sims, or Simmes; Henrie Ballard; Felix Kingston; John de Beauchesne; John Norton; George Shaw; Thomas Judson; Richard Brancocke, or Bradock; Simon Strafford, or Stafford; Early introduction of the art into the country; Oxford; Cambridge; St Albans; York; Beverley; Tavistock; Southwark; Canterbury; Ipswich; Worcester; Greenwich; Norwich; Moulsey; Index.
