The Second Printing Revolution
By Jeremy M. Norman
Mr. Norman has recently released a celebration of the Second Printing Revolution (1800-2000). The first was Gutenberg’s introduction of moveable type that made it practical to print multiple copies circa 1450 to break the production bottleneck to meet increasing demand for handwritten books. His invention was the outcome of what had already become or was becoming the peak of handwritten book production.
Between 1450 and 1700, printing then re-engineered the way humans stored and shared information. That logjam broken, the basic mechanical design of the press stayed remarkably unchanged for nearly 350 years, while the structure of books, formats, typefaces and their spacing conventions slowly settled in. Over time, printing became an industry as the format and structure of the book underwent its complete metamorphosis.
By 1800, what was left to do was to develop more efficient ways to make paper, then add energy (initially water power) so larger presses would run faster. The world was waiting for what Mr. Norman calls The Second Printing Revolution, the invention of mass media!
His focus is on how equipment and processes evolved, describing (and illustrating with 346 images) the explosion of innovation in paper manufacturing, typesetting, printing, folding and binding, He captures the interactive world in the 19th century that mechanics were the menschen presiding over this revolution. He brings this revolution alive.
This done, Mr. Norman’s book is being launched in the most respectful way. The fabled Grolier Club in New York City is providing free access to an exhibition relating to Mr. Norman’s volume (up until 4/15/26).
If you have even a smidgen of printer’s ink in your veins, you owe yourself the opportunity to see first-hand this celebration of human ingenuity.
A few random images that capture the magic of industrialization in printing are included in this brief article. To see more, you can see his exposition in New York or buy a copy of his first edition. They won’t last long. He printed 250 copies, then will revise and then print a second edition. Whether you’re a typophile, typographer or master printer, your shelf set will not be complete until this volume gets pride in place.
The Grolier Club in New York City is now hosting this free exposition. You can apply for tickets at https://www.grolierclub.org/default.aspx?p=.NETEventView&ID=3882948&qfilter=RSC15361&title=&type=0&ssid=322533&chgs=
This exhibit is in the Ground Floor Galleries, January 14 – April 11, 2026.
If you can’t make the trip, you can buy a copy either from the Grolier or from Mr. Norman’s website. https://www.historyofscience.com/index.php
