The Printing Press

Henry VIII, king of England in the early 1500’s. During his reign, he became famous for obtaining a few wives during his time as king. His first divorce however, was not the easiest. The pope refused the kings divorce and sparked a feud. This would start what’s now known as the English reformation.

A recent invention by a German goldsmith named Johannes Gutenberg would begin to be put into great use to easily spread messages to the masses. The circulation of the bible was increased due to the speed it could be produced and Henry was sure to want to use the press to his advantage. “Henry VII used the printing press for self-promotion several times before the 1530’s, commissioning Richard Pynson, royal printer before Thomas Berthelet, to publish besides the statues and proclamations tracts that would generate support for the government’s policies and actions” (Warner, 1998).

So, what was the printing press?

 (Unknown, 2014)

“He didn't invent printing. He didn't even invent movable type. He often ran into legal trouble and, when he died in 1468, he did so with little money or glory.” (Whipps, 2008). Johannes Gutenburgs printing press allowed word to be spread to the masses in a quick, and efficient manner. Based on the Chinese wooden block printing technique, he began to develop a movable type to print multiple and different words on to paper. During a time when text had to be handwritten, it was a surprising and most welcome invention during the English Reformation.

Metal letters were arranged in a type tray with a coating of oil-based ink, and a sheet of paper placed on top. This with screw presses would allow the print to be made onto paper repeatedly, allowing for large scale production of texts.

Nowadays, you only need to pop to Argos to pick up a printer that will produce your work in seconds. It’s faster, much higher quality and has a whole range of modern, digital features. The laser jet printer being one of the most technically advance and it works by making “a laser beam scan back and forth across a drum inside the printer, building up a pattern of static electricity. The static electricity attracts onto the page a kind of powdered ink called toner” (Unknown, 2016). The only laborious task would be writing whatever you required printing. No need to set up the characters you require. Just make sure your ink cartridge is filled.

  (Unknown, 2012)

Bibliography

Unknown, 2012. Canon ME unveils three new PIXMA printers. [Online]
Available at: http://www.itp.net/591369-canon-me-unveils-three-new-pixma-printers
[Accessed 16 11 2016].

Unknown, 2014. THIS WEEK IN TECH HISTORY: THE GUTENBERG BIBLE AND PRINTING PRESS. [Online]
Available at: https://vrworld.com/2014/08/17/week-history-gutenbergs-bible/
[Accessed 08 11 2016].

Unknown, 2016. Laser printers. [Online]
Available at: http://www.explainthatstuff.com/laserprinters.html
[Accessed 16 11 2016].

Warner, J. C., 1998. Introduction: Representing Henry VIII. In: Henry VIII's Divorce: Literature and the Politics of the Printing Press. Woodbridge: The Boydell Press, p. 7.

Whipps, H., 2008. How Gutenberg Changed the World. [Online]
Available at: http://www.livescience.com/2569-gutenberg-changed-world.html
[Accessed 08 11 2016].