Jan van Doesborch (?-1536), printer of English texts

Abstract

AbstractThe article Jan van Doesborch (?-1536), printer of English books examines in how far this printer-publisher issued texts in Dutch-English parallel editions so as to gain understanding of the artistic and commercial considerations which played a part in the production of books and further to reconstruct the extent, especially of the production of books in the Dutch language within the whole of Jan van Doesborch's output. When his output is put together it appears that Jan van Doesborch employed strict criteria in deciding to issue a particular text in English translation and that arbitrary choice was out of the question. Beside reprints of very popular small school textbooks, Jan van Doesborch produced books in the English language only if he was the first to print them in the English-speaking countries and if they were in prose. On the strength of this investigation it is possible to maintain that Jan van Doesborch could have printed Dutch language editions also only of those works of fiction which he printed in English. Jan van Doesborch's selection policy and his pursuance of both the English and Dutch markets by means of parallel productions may have influenced the form in which these texts were published. Differences in form and content, especially between Mary of Nemmegen and Mariken van Nieumeghen have to be seen in this light.