Printer Mobility in Sixteenth-Century France

Abstract

By the mid-sixteenth century, printer itinerancy had become rare in France. The book trade had developed a stable modus operandi in which well-funded printers in the main centres of print met virtually all the needs of enterprising booksellers throughout the kingdom. The author saws the difficulties that the book trade faced during this turbulent period and how this encouraged printers to become more mobile. The author shows that the arrival of the printing presses in the kingdom of France had seen many master printers set up workshops in towns, villages and monasteries on a purely temporary basis. The wars of religion presented both opportunities and dangers for Protestant printers. For Catholics, itinerancy mainly occurred during the wars of the Catholic League and resulted from political views that were incompatible with the consensus predominant amongst local authorities. Keywords:Catholic league; France; political scene; printer itinerancy; religion; sixteenth century; wars