Oak Knoll

Very rare first edition (Bigmore and Wyman p.228). Private bookplate of Jackson Burke on the verso of the front free endpaper. Contemporary boards with some rubbing to the spine and extremities, corners a bit worn, gilt on the spine is lightly flaking, evidence of bookplate removal to front and rear pastedowns. Else a fine copy of this very scarce work.

Two works bound together. Complete titles are: Dissertation sur l'origine et les progrès de l'art de graver en bois (1758) and De l'origine et des productions de l'imprimerie primitive en taille de bois (1759).

Fournier (1712--1768) was born in Paris and trained as a wood engraver. He later turned to steel engraving. In the first essay, Fournier sets out to prove that Gutenberg was not the inventor of the printing press by examining the history of printing. He believes that the technology Gutenberg made popular existed long before the German printer's work. The second volume follows this up with further discussion of the origins of woodcut prints.

Fournier wrongly disputes the dating of Mr. De Bure le Jeune concerning the Gutenberg Bible, but he is the first, (with the help of an observation by Gerard Meerman), to note the progressive increase in the number of lines per page in the early stages of Bible production.