Thomas Berthelet
Thomas Berthelet (died 1555) was a London printer, probably from France. His surname was also variously spelt Berthelot and Berthelett. Berthelet was to become King's Printer and King's Bookbinder for Henry VIII. His name was Englished as "Bartlett".[1]
Background
Berthelet was of French descent though very little is known about his background before he established himself as a printer in London.
Career
Berthelet is recorded, in an application for a marriage licence of 23 August 1524, as being resident in the London parish of St Dunstan in
On 27 September 1524 Berthelet printed his first book Opus sane de deorum dearumque gentilium genealogia, a small tract by the monk Galfredus Petrus of Bayeux, which was printed in his premises in Fleet Street. In 1528 he printed a translation by Thomas Paynell of the Regimen sanitatis Salerni. This became one of the most popular medical books of the time.[3]
By 22 February 1530, Berthelet held the office of
Berthelet printed many Humanist texts important to his age. Among them are the English Bible of
In 1545 he was appointed by the Common Council to a committee for poor-relief in the City, together with Humfrey Pakington, Stephen Kirton, Augustine Hynde, William Garrard, Thomas Bacon and others, assisting the Lord Mayor and four aldermen in the work of receiving the Hospitals (dissolved religious houses) from the King and devising ordinances for their future management. In 1548, with regard to St Bartholomew's Hospital, in view of their painstaking work on the orders and constitutions, and their especial diligence, they (including Berthelet) were reappointed for one further year to continue their governance of the refounded institution.[5]
Private life
Berthelet died in London on 26 September 1555. He was succeeded by his second wife, Margaret, and two sons. Berthelet's funeral was held before 26 January 1556 and the mourners included priests, clerks and fellow craftsmen from the book trades.[3]
Historiated initials owned by Thomas Berthelet
References
- ^ L. Hellinga and J.B. Trapp (eds), The Cambridge History of the Book in Britain Vol. 3: 1450-1557 (Cambridge University Press, 1999), pp. 589-97, at p. 591.
- ^ a b Colin Clair (1965). A History of Printing in Britain. London: Cassell.
- ^ a b c d K.F. Pantzer, rev., 'Berthelet [Berthelot], Thomas (d. 1555), printer'. "Oxford Dictionary of National Biography". Retrieved 30 June 2014.
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: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link) CS1 maint: numeric names: authors list (link) - ^ Search in WorldCat.
- ^ F.J. Furnivall and P. Furnivall (eds), The Anatomie of the Bodie of Man, by Thomas Vicary Part I (Early English Text Society, London 1888), Appendix III, p. 127, & pp. 133-35.
Further reading
- Davenport, Cyril (1901) Thomas Berthelet, Royal Printer and Bookbinder to Henry VIII ... With special reference to his bookbindings. Chicago: Caxton Club