First edition of two treatises on the origins of printing, written by the important type founder Pierre Simon Fournier (1712-1768), also known as Fournier le Jeune. In this work, he set out to prove that Gutenberg was not the inventor of the printing press, but only popularised a technology that already existed in Europe. Fournier also carefully studied the Gutenberg Bible and wrongly disputed its proposed dating. He was, however, the first to note the gradual increase in the number of lines per page in the early stages of the Bible's production.
The two treatises were originally separately published, but were later issued together with three other essays as Traités historiques et critiques sur l'origine et les progrès de l'imprimerie (1764).
Fournier was born in Paris and trained as a wood engraver, steel engraver, and typefounder. He worked closely with the collaborators of the Encyclopédie, providing the printer Le Breton with all the documentation relating to the typographic foundry and plans for his own instruments, as well as providing Diderot with his collection of ancient alphabets. He was also the author of the most important French typography handbook of the 18th century: Manuel Typographique, utile aux gens de Lettres (1764-1766), which, according to Dibdin should be in every printing office. The typeface Fournier designed, which is named after him, is still used today.
With the bookplate of Jackson Burke mounted on the verso of the front free flyleaf, and a blue stamp above. The work has been rebacked, with the original spine laid down, remnants of a title label on the spine, the boards are somewhat scratched. Remnants of a bookplate on the front and back pastedown, minor foxing on some of the leaves. Otherwise in good condition. Bigmore-Wyman I, pp. 227-8; Querard III, pp. 183-184; cf. Birrel & Garnett 37 (on the 'Manuel'); Updike I, pp. 251- 260; not in Cioranescu.