, or Jansonius, a celebrated printer and letter-founder of Venice, but by birth
, or Jansonius, a celebrated printer
and letter-founder of Venice, but by birth a Frenchman,
flourished in the fifteenth century. He is said to have been
originally an engraver of coins and medals at Paris. About
1453 the report of the invention of printing at Mentz being
circulated, he was sent by the king, Charles VII. to gain
private information on the subject of that art. He fulfilled the object of his mission, but, on his return to France,
finding that the king was dead, or perhaps having heard of
his death, he removed to Venice. Such is the purport of
an account in two old French manuscripts on the coinage,
except that one places the mission of Jenson under Louis
XL which is less probable. Jenson excelled in all branches
of the art, and more than are now united with it. He
formed the punches, he cast the letters, and conducted the
typography. He first determined the form and proportion
of the present Roman character: and his editions are still
sought on account of the neatness and beauty of his types.
The first book that issued from his press is a scarce work in
quarto, entitled “Decor Puellarum,
” the date of which is
Gloria Mulierum,
” a proper sequel to the former. After these
are found many editions of Latin classics and other books,
for ten years subsequent; but, as no books from his press
appear after 1481, it is conjectured that he died about
that time.