Printing press. Historical artwork of men working in a 16th century printing press. The printers are in the foreground whilst, behind them, two compositors work on typesetting and preparing the printing blocks. Though previously known in China, European printing was independently invented by Johann Gutenberg in about 1450. The mass-production of cheap text greatly advanced the spread of knowledge. Taken from Jost Amman's Book of Trades 1568.