This work investigates the origins and development of the printing industry in Calcutta during the eighteenth century. Graham Shaw, a recognized expert in South Asian bibliography, utilizes extensive archival research and physical examination of early printed materials to document the emergence of the press in colonial India. The book provides a rigorous framework for understanding how printing technology was introduced, adapted, and utilized by early publishers in the region.

Experts regard this text as a foundational reference for the history of the book in South Asia. Scholars frequently highlight the meticulous bibliographic detail and the clarity with which Shaw documents the technical evolution of early Indian printing.