Watson, James
£2,000
Auction: 10 June 2009 at 12:00 BST
Description
The history of the art of printing, containing an account of it's [sic] invention and progress in Europe... Edinburgh: printed by James Watson, 1713. First edition, small 8vo, 24, xlviii, 64, folding plate of wood engraved ornaments, title in red and black, modern half calf gilt, folding plate torn and tidily repaired without loss
Footnote
Note: James Watson was the son of an Aberdeen merchant who advanced money to two Dutch printers to set up a printing house in Edinburgh; the business failed and reverted to the elder Watson, who obtained the sole licence to print almanacs in Scotland. The younger Watson set up as a printer in 1695. In 1700 he was imprisoned for printing a pamphlet attacking the Darien adventure, but was released when the prison was stormed by a mob. Also in 1700 he began publishing the Edinburgh Gazette and in 1705 founded the Edinburgh Courant. In 1711 he obtained a share of the patent of king's printer. [DNB]