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During the eighteenth century newspapers and magazines start appearing all over the world. The volume of work that is printed increases enormously. It is estimated that 337,000 book titles are printed in the eighteenth century. Obviously this also leads to many more people working in the industry. In 1725 there are 75 printers in London, but by 1785 there are 124.

1702 – The first daily newspaper

The Daily Courant is the first British daily newspaper. The single page two column newspaper only focusses on foreign news. It has advertisements on the reverse side and is published until 1735 when it merges with the Daily Gazetteer. 1704 – The Boston News-Letter

The Boston News-Letter is the first newspaper that is published on a continuous basis in British North America. It is subsidized and controlled by the British government and has only limited circulation. 1709 – First modern copyright legislation

The Statute of Anne is the first modern copyright law. It originates in the United Kingdom.

1710 – Color engravings

1716 – Caslon Roman Old Face 1721 – The New England Courant

The New England Courant is published by James Franklin, the older brother of Benjamin Franklin. The market for such newspapers is still very limited with press runs (the total number printed) of 300 or less.

1725 – Duplicating printing plates using stereotyping

The Scottish goldsmith William Ged invents stereotyping. In this process, a mixture of plaster is poured on a tray of completed type to make a mold from it. Hot metal is poured into this mold and allowed to set. The resulting stereotype or cliché is a printing plate that is an exact copy of the original. From 1848 onwards molds are created from papier-mâché instead of plaster. The image below shows such a paper stereotype. The stereotyping process makes larger press runs as well as reprints much cheaper. It is used extensively for printing books and newspapers until the late 1800s when it is gradually getting replaced by electrotyping which delivers sharper copies in which finer detail can be preserved. 1727 – Miniature bibles

In London the Biblia or ‘a Practical Summary of ye Old & New Testaments’ is printed. This tiny 4 by 3-centimeter shortened version of the Bible is bound in leather with reliefs. It contains 284 pages with 14 wood engravings. Tiny books like this are popular collector’s items to this day. 1731 – The first magazine

The Gentleman’s Magazine, considered to be the first general interest magazine,  is published for the first time. Its editor, Edward Cave, is the first to use the term ‘magazine’. The publication runs uninterrupted until 1922. 1732 – Poor Richard’s Almanac

In the American colonies Benjamin Franklin, who had learned to print from his brother, establishes his own printing office and becomes the publisher of the Pennsylvania Gazette. Among his publications, Poor Richard’s Almanac, a yearly publication containing a calendar, weather, poems, sayings and astronomical and astrological information, becomes the most famous. He sells the business again in 1748 to devote his time to his literary, journalistic and civic activities. He does keep promoting the print industry in the colonies. 1742 – Magazines get illustrated

The Illustrated London News is the first magazine to make extensive use of illustrations. The issue below is from 1876, an era in which newly explored continents provided plenty of opportunities to come up with imaginative artwork. <1600-1699 – 1750-1799>




