- "Though an angel should write, still 'tis the devils must print."
- -Thomas Moore, The Fudge Family in England
The printer's helper has long been know as the "devil." This was the errand runner, the apprentice, or the copy boy in a newspaper. What was the origin of this strange title?
One account puts the blame on John Fust, the business partner of Gutenberg. Near the conclusion of the printing of the Bible, Fust foreclosed on the venture and forced Gutenberg out of the business. Hoping to make a quick profit, he took the completed Bibles to Paris. There Fust sold several Bibles to Louis XI and his court officials. He represented them as hand copied manuscripts.
By accident, it was discovered that individual letters were identical in appearance. Fust was accused of witchcraft. It was alleged that the beautiful red letters were written in blood. Fust was imprisoned. In addition to the official charges, these less costly Bibles were an economic threat to the monastic industry of hand copying.
Louis freed him after Fust confessed the scheme and revealed the printing secret, but many still believed he was in league with Satan. A French story linked the name of Fust to that of the legendary Dr. Faustus who sold his soul to the devil. The speed in which printing could be done and economic impact it would have on the established publishing methods encouraged and perpetuated the satanic link.
Another possible origin to the printer's devil has been linked to Aldus Manutius. Aldus also had his detractors who denounced him for practicing "the black art." The assistant to Manutius was a young boy of African decent. As he made his deliveries in Venice the assistant was accused of being the embodiment of Satan.
To put an end to the superstitious citizens of Venice, Aldus put his assistant on display and stated "I, Aldus Manutius, printer to the Holy Church and Doge, have this day made public exposure of the printer's devil. All those who think that he is not flesh and blood may come and pinch him."
An English tradition links the origin of the printer's devil to William Caxton's assistant. Caxton was the first English printer and book publisher. He employed an assistant who was the son of a gentleman of French descent named De Ville or Deville. The term devil was supposed to be an innocent evolution of the name.
At a nineteenth century benefit for the London Printer's Pension Society, an actor took on the character of a printer's devil and described his lot in life.- "Ladies and GentlemenI beg your pardon for thus appearing here in Covent-Garden;
- 'Tis not my faultI'd rather be at home, but I was by the Printers press'd to come. . .
- Every thing's thrown on me, but you shall hearMaster, you know, commands the overseer, The overseer he lords it o'er the men, the men they fag the 'prentices, and then The 'prentices blowe me upthat's not civilso good or bad, all's laid upon the Devil! For every thing they want, the pressmen call me, and if I do not answer, the black ball me, Nay, with abuse the very Authors cram me, and when I go for copy, curse and damn me!"
Copyright © 1997 by Frank Granger
Table of Contents - 'Tis not my faultI'd rather be at home, but I was by the Printers press'd to come. . .
