Książka piękna w dorobku drukarń warszawskich

The author is describing the subject of esthetics in historic book printing in Warsaw printing hauses from 15th up to mid 20th century. He starts a polemics against a well grounded assumption among book historians that Warsaw printers in their origins (up to the end of 18th century) created products of inferior quality, when the material book form is considered. A number of examples are shown to present the craftsmanship of printers in the given period. The paper describes also the conjunction between visual form of book printed in Warsaw and the styles and tendencies in contemporary European typography and graphic arts. International trade liaisons, including close cooperation, employing foreign specialists like designers, printers and publishers, as well as quick reactions for the technology advances and implementing the novelties in Warsaw printing houses are mentioned.