Hagar handpress as published in Meyer

This large folding schematic of the Hagar iron handpress was published in the 1838 volume of Meyer's Journal für Buchdruckerkunst, showing that handpress printing remained very important in Germany at the time.

Add for Andreasischen Buchhandlung in Meyer

Meyer's Journal für Buchdruckerkunst includes many inserted samples of exotic types and especially of exotic ornaments. In this advertisment for a printer we see unusually elaborate borders composed of individual type ornaments surrounding a vignette of their printing office. If you enlarge the image you will see that they feature printing on a handpress.

Article about Napier's rotary press from Meyer

Here is the opening page of the April 1837 issue of Meyer's Journal für Buchdruckerkunst featuring a long article on Napier's rotary press.

Napier's rotary press from Meyer

The paper on which this folding schematic of Napier's single cylinder rotary press was printed was of lesser quality and browned. The magazine also included a second schematic of the press showing different elements.

Recording the Development of Printing Machines in Germany from 1834 to 1839

1834 to 1839
Koenig double cylinder in Meyer

Schematic of Koenig's double-cylinder rotary press as published in Meyer's Journal für Buchdruckerkunst (1838).

As of July 2020 I had not found a history of the early development of mechanized printing in Germany, a country to which, for a variety of reasons, the Industrial Revolution was late in coming. After the printed listing of early machines sold by Koenig und Bauer surviving from 1827 the record appears to be spotty until the later 19th century by which time the technology was established to a greater or lesser extent in most countries of Europe.

A useful source for the 1830s in Germany is Johann Heinrich Meyer's Journal für Buchdruckerkunst, of which I was able to acquire the first six volumns from 1834 to 1839. This is a fascinating publication that includes numerous specimens of type and ornamentation, and illustrations of printing presses, typically on inserted folding plates, sometimes in color.

Only in the fourth issue of the fourth volume published on April 30, 1837 do we see the first article on Die Druckmaschinen. This begins with a long account of Napier's Schnellpresse by Carl Berling of Copenhagen followed a long 4-page article by Friedrich Koenig recounting the invention and development of the Schnellpresse. There is a large folding schematic of the Napier machine.

A second article on the Druckmaschine by Fr. Hendress appeared in the June issue for 1838. In the first issue of 1839 there is a 6 page feature article on the Druckmaschine featuring Koenig's double cylinder machine that could print on both sides of the paper. This was continued in the second issue for 1839. There are two very detailed schematics of the machine.

Though we cannot tell to what extent Koenig's very expensive and elaborate double-cylinder machine was being adopted in Germany, it is evident from the articles in this magazine that his machines were receiving some well-deserved publicity.

Timeline Themes

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