In 1611 Robert Barker first printed the Authorised Version of the Holy Bible, which has been more often reprinted than any other book, and which exists to this day as the great standard of the English language.
The taste for books of travel which arose in the last century was largely increased by the voyages and discoveries of the English in North America and the subsequent Puritan exodus there. These early accounts of Virginia and New England, many of which are tracts of a few leaves only, now command fabulous prices. The great collection of voyages under the name of "Purchas: his Pilgrimes," was printed in five folio volumes, 1625-6, while De Bry, Hulsius, and Linschoten were enriching the world with their collections of travels, printed in Germany and Holland. All of these works were adorned with finely engraved plates, those to "Purchas" being engraved by Elstrack, and, besides, it had a famous map of the world, engraved by Hondius.
The controversial spirit engendered by the religious quarrels of the century and by the great civil war gave incessant work to the printers; and the many tracts and pamphlets thus produced were frequently illustrated by rude and coarse woodcuts, of no value from an artistic point of view, but curious from the indications they afford of the costumes and manners of the time.
The first edition of Walton's "Angler" was printed by R. Marriott in 1653, 16mo, with plates in the text, engraved on steel by Lombart. Butler's "Hudibras" appeared in 1663-78, and Milton's "Paradise Lost" in 1667, quarto. Fuller's "Worthies of England" was printed 1662, folio. We have roughly mentioned the principal English books of the century, and next approach the revival of literature and art in the eighteenth century.
The regency--Publishers at the beginning of the eighteenth century--Illustrators in France; Gillot--The school of Watteau and Boucher--Cars--The younger Cochin; his principal works in vignettes--French art in England; Gravelot--Eisen--Choffard--The _Baisers_ of Dorat; the _Contes_ of La Fontaine--the publisher Cazin and the special literature of the eighteenth century--The younger Moreau and his illustrations--The Revolution--The school of David--Duplessis-Bertaux--The Book in Germany; Chodowiecki--In England; Boydell and French artists--Caslon and Baskerville--English books with illustrations--Wood engraving in the eighteenth century; the Papillons--Printing offices in the eighteenth century.