About Erhard Ratdolt
Lived 1447 – 1528 (aged 80–81). Erhard Ratdolt was a German publisher, printer, painter and typographer.
Diagram showing eclipse of the moon; woodcut, printed in three colours. From Sphaericum opusculum by Johannes de Sacro Bosco, printed by Erhard Ratdolt, Venice 1485
Erhard Ratdolt (1442–1528) was an early German printer from Augsburg. He was active as a printer in Venice from 1476 to 1486, and afterwards in Augsburg. From 1475 and Alchabitius (1503). Ratdolt is also famous for having produced the first known printer's type specimen book (in this instance a broadsheet displaying the fonts with which he might print).
His innovations of layout and typography, mixing type and woodcuts, have subsequently been much admired. His graphic choices and technical solutions influenced also those of William Morris.
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Contemporaries
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Frequently asked questions
Who was Erhard Ratdolt?
Bavarian printer (1442–1528)
When was Erhard Ratdolt born?
Erhard Ratdolt was born in 1447 in Augsburg.
When did Erhard Ratdolt die?
Erhard Ratdolt died in 1528 in Augsburg.
What was Erhard Ratdolt's occupation?
Erhard Ratdolt was a publisher, printer, painter and typographer.
What nationality was Erhard Ratdolt?
Erhard Ratdolt was German.
Sources & further reading
Cite this page
APA: Biography.guide. (2026). Erhard Ratdolt. https://biography.guide/erhard-ratdolt/
MLA: "Erhard Ratdolt." Biography.guide, https://biography.guide/erhard-ratdolt/.
Chicago: "Erhard Ratdolt." Biography.guide. https://biography.guide/erhard-ratdolt/.
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