Printer's Error: Irreverent Stories of Books History

by J. P. Romney, Rebecca Romney

Overview

Delve into the curious history of print and publishing—from the Gutenberg Bible and Shakespeare’s folios to rare book forgers, literary scandals and more.

The printing press is one history’s greatest achievements. It allowed us to record and spread some of humanity’s most brilliant ideas. But let’s not forget that humankind is also full of idiots. In Printer’s Error, historian J.P. Romney and rare book specialist Rebecca Romney take readers on a rollicking ride through some of the greatest and strangest moments in book history.

Readers will meet intriguing characters such as Marino Massimo De Caro, the Italian librarian and master book thief; bookbinder Thomas Cobden-Sanderson, who created the world’s most beautiful typeface—then plotted to destroy it; and William Tyndale, who made the Holy Bible accessible to countless worshippers—and was also burned at the stake for heresy.

The Romneys scoured five hundred years of book history and collected some of its most absurd episodes. And then like so many humans before them, they wrote a book about it.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9780062412331
Publisher:	HarperCollins
Publication date:	11/21/2023
Sold by:	Barnes & Noble
Format:	eBook
Pages:	366
File size:	6 MB

About the Author

Rebecca Romney’s appearances on the History Channel’s Pawn Stars have made her the country’s most recognizable rare book dealer. In her career, she has sold single volumes for $500,000, books from the libraries of Isaac Newton and Queen Elizabeth I, and more than one Shakespeare Folio.

J. P. Romney is a historical researcher and the author of the young adult novel The Monster on the Road Is Me.

Editorial Reviews

Who knew the printed book could be so fun? J. P. and Rebecca have written a real page turner. Printer’s Error is truly a rare treasure.

Rick Harrison

Printer’s Error is an entertaining entry in the always fascinating books-about-books genre. The Romneys make good on the irreverent premise that ‘the printed word is glorious, but it’s also nuts.’ How, they ask, can that be so? ‘Because we are gloriously nuts.’ It’s a keeper.

Nicholas A. Basbanes

Captivating. It’s like standing in line and overhearing an animated conversation just ahead of you about the secret world of rare books—and hoping you hear it all before they get to the front of the line and wander off someplace else!

John Simpson

"A spritely visit to the land of rare books." —Kirkus

From the Publisher