farfel_n02_174_133

Although the earliest standard Greek Types to be introduced
did not make their appearance until 1495, the 1st
attempts to represent Greek characters with moveable tykpes
go back 30 years earlier, occurring in the year 1465
both in Germany + in Italy. (P. Schoeffer, C. Sweyndeym +
A. Pamnartz) For a decade after 1463 Greek printing was
confined to types of subsidiary class, no continuous
Greek text being attempted. Germany drops out of the
running altogether + Italian printers have the field practically
to themselves, continuing in this position for 2 generations +
more, (Rome + Venice) The 1st preparations for the production
of continuous Greek texts date from round about the year 1475.
They were inspired by the activities of the numerous band of
Greek literati, chiefly among them Demetrius Chalcondylas,
Constantine + John Lascaius + Marcus Musurus, who
were teaching in Italy on the crest of a wave of Hellinic
entusiasm.
The Greek fonts (4) intoduced successively by Aldus are in
descending order of size.
Z. Callieger - whose Type is an upright, evenly cut cursive with
letter + accent cast in one piece from specifically contrived
matrius - Trespass on the Aldine privilege being thus
avoided on both counts. As a cursive, it is immensely
superior to the 2nd Aldine, with which it approximately ranges.
-was the last + in many respects the most eminent of the Greek
printers in the 15th C. His work falls into 3 very distinct
periods. His great period which lasted only 2 yrs 1498+1500
was due to teh enterprise + good taste of his fellow countrymen
N. Blastos.