Gaskell 1972

Book Production: The Hand-press Period 1500-1800

The Hand-printed Book

• compositor: type --> composing stick (several lines) --> galley (whole page);

tie with string, move to the next

• imposition: arrange many pages of type for one sheet --> fix in a pair of iron frames (chases), one for each side --> locked together, two chases of type create a forme

• trial prints (proofs) made from formes; compared with copy;

errors marked by corrector (possibly author), marked proofs used by compositor to correct type

• formes placed on printing press