The son of a Liverpool-based printer, John Southward (1840–1902) was a prolific writer and editor of books on the subject. He edited the Printers' Register from 1886 to 1890, and his Modern Printing: A Handbook remained a standard work for apprentice printers and compositors well into the twentieth century. This dictionary of terms employed in printing offices was one of his earlier works, initially issued as a monthly serial within the Printers' Register. The resulting high demand led to the publication of a second edition in book format in 1875. Painstakingly compiled, it covers the history and practice of typography, and gives references to other works where further information can be found. Over a century later, the technology and terminology of typesetting and printing have undergone enormous changes, but this book remains a fascinating snapshot of the British printing industry in the mid-to-late nineteenth century.