Printed knowledge: Editorial Practices and Commercial Strategies in Early Modern Printers’ Manuals

Abstract This article aims to understand how knowledge was produced and publicized in Early Modern printers’ manuals. Firstly, I explore the parameters for the consolidation of the manuals as a genre in the European book market. Secondly, I analyse authors’, editors’ and printers’ recurrent practices of reconfiguring illustrations from previous printers’ manuals as an editorial strategy which aimed at spreading practical knowledge to a wider audience. Finally, I examine the typographic and linguistic modes of presentation of testimonial narrative and discursive alterity. I argue that Early Modern printers’ manuals result from the confluence of compilatory practices registered in ink by authors and artists, economic strategies adopted by editors and booksellers, the typographic language used at printing workshops, and the collective spirit which supported a project of knowledge diffusion.

摘要：本文旨在探究近代早期印刷手册（Early Modern printers’ manuals）中的知识生产与传播路径。首先，本文考察欧洲图书市场中该类文体的定型参数。其次，本文分析作者、编辑与印刷者反复重构既往印刷手册插图的编辑实践——该策略旨在将实用知识推广至更广泛的受众群体。最后，本文检视见证叙事与话语异质性的排版与语言呈现范式。本文认为，近代早期印刷手册是多要素交汇融合的产物：涵盖作者与艺术家以笔墨留存的汇编实践、编辑与书商采用的商业策略、印刷工坊所使用的排版语言，以及支撑知识传播事业的集体精神。