Knowing James Corbett to be generally thorough I was a bit surprised to observe him skip a huge chunk of essential history in respect of printing.

Venice initially granted a limited monopoly of book printing to Johannes of Speyer in 1469 to encourage the introduction of the new technology, but this was not sustained. The Venetian government quickly abandoned pursuing monopolies, and for the next seventeen years, no further privileges were granted, allowing the printing trade to develop freely without state intervention.

This laissez-faire approach fostered a highly competitive and dynamic book market, making Venice the fastest-growing publishing centre in Europe. While the city eventually re-introduced censorship, such as the appointment of Andrea Navagero in 1515 to oversee book revisions and the creation of a Venetian Index of Forbidden Books in 1559.

Venice became a hub for diverse and often controversial ideas, including Protestant and humanist texts. The city’s printing industry thrived due to its open, market-driven environment, attracting scholars and printers from across Europe. Thus, Venice’s role became a facilitator of information exchange and a controller of it.