New exhibition explores how early printing developed into readable books

"The exhibition charts the rapid evolution of the printed word in the late 15th century, showing how a radical new technology quickly made books more readable, affordable and widely available. In just a few decades, printing had already transformed reading from an elite pursuit into something far more accessible."

"One of the most engaging aspects of the exhibition is seeing early experimentation in making books easier to read. You can trace the gradual move away from dense Gothic typefaces towards letterforms that feel far more familiar today. There are also insights into how book conventions developed surprisingly late, such as page numbers."

"Caxton is placed in context alongside his contemporaries, including the arguably more influential Wynkyn de Worde, who recognised the commercial potential of smaller, cheaper books and helped trigger the mass production of printed material."

William Caxton is credited with revolutionizing book printing in England during the late 15th century. The exhibition at Senate House Library showcases how printing technology quickly made books more readable, affordable, and widely available, transforming reading from an elite pursuit into an accessible activity. Caxton learned his craft in Cologne and produced some of his earliest surviving books around 1471-1480. The exhibition features The Game of Chess (1483), the earliest complete book printed in England, and demonstrates early experimentation in readability through the evolution from dense Gothic typefaces to more familiar letterforms. Book conventions like page numbers developed surprisingly late. Caxton's contemporaries, particularly Wynkyn de Worde, also played significant roles in advancing printing technology and mass production. The exhibition explores both innovations and limitations of early printing, including challenges with illustrations and musical notation reproduction.

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