This work investigates the evolution of typographic design and production methods during the first 150 years of the printing press. Harry Graham Carter, a distinguished historian of printing, utilizes his deep technical knowledge to examine how material printing processes intersected with the intellectual requirements of early publishers. The book argues that the development of typefaces was not merely an aesthetic choice but a response to the shifting demands of language, literacy, and the transition from manuscript to print.

Experts and historians of the book consider this a foundational text for understanding the origins of modern typography. Readers frequently note the technical precision of the prose, which remains highly regarded for its clarity and depth despite the specialized nature of the subject matter.