Aldus Manutius Founds His Press

1490

A classically trained humanist set up a printing house in Venice dedicated to producing small, affordable editions of Greek and Latin classics. He invented italic type, the semicolon's modern use, and the portable octavo format. Aldine editions traveled in scholars' saddlebags across Europe, democratizing classical learning. His partnership with punchcutter Francesco Griffo produced the first italic typeface, giving books the elegance of a scholar's handwriting.