A Dictionary of the Art of Printing

William Savage's Dictionary of the Art of Printing is both a practical handbook and a proud defense of printing as a living craft. Addressed to printers, booksellers, librarians, apprentices, and general readers, it gathers statutes, abbreviations, alphabets, and technical knowledge from trusted sources and working experience, correcting what Savage sees as repetitive and incomplete earlier writing. He deliberately includes subjects other authors neglect—Bible orthography, imposing pages, records, electrotype, fine presswork, and printing from wood engravings—because they matter to daily practice, not just theory. The dictionary opens with a plainspoken account of the labor behind its making, then moves into an extensive abbreviation guide covering Latin, French, scholarly, legal, religious, and administrative shorthand, along with titles, honors, monetary forms, and editorial terms. It closes this reference material with accents and printing law, making the book a true professional tool. Beyond the glossary, Savage turns to stamp duties, invention, and industrial method, offering sharp, practical reflections on taxation, innovation, capital, and the limits of mechanical systems, especially in precision printing and manufacturing. This edition has been fully restored with modern typesetting, custom cover design.