ABSTRACT
Charles Knight was a pioneer in the sense in which it is defined in the Oxford English Dictionary as one who 'opens the road'. Knight was one of the first publishers to recognise the value of stereotyping, which meant that reprints retained the quality and clarity of the original. Knight's unique combination of artistic flair, journalistic talent and grass roots printing layout skills gave him an edge, which he employed effectively to attract the widest possible audience. Knight's appreciation of the artwork was genuine. The art was also a source of great expense, which constituted a major fixed item in Knight's publication budgets. The problems, which Knight encountered in the realm of technology pale in comparison to those which he faced as a consequence of human obstacles. These came in various shapes, ranging from impersonal taxation, through the Society for the Diffusion of Useful Knowledge inhibiting influences, to peer hostility and competition, and finally to the ever-evolving mass readership.
