John Siberch facts for kids
John Siberch (born around 1476, died 1554) was a very important person in the history of books. He was the first printer in Cambridge, England. He also worked with the famous scholar Erasmus.
Contents
The Life of John Siberch
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John Siberch's Early Years
John Siberch was born around 1476. His birth name was Johann Lair. His father, Peter, was a skilled wool weaver and a town leader. His mother was Lena von Lair.
When John was a child, his family moved from Sieglar to Siegburg. Later, when he went to the University of Cologne in 1492, he used the name Johann de Syberch, taking it from his new hometown.
Starting a Career in Books
In the early 1510s, Siberch began working with books. At first, he was a traveling salesman for a bookseller named Hans Beck from Cologne. He married the daughter of another bookseller, Gerhard Amersfoort. They had two daughters, Katharina and Baetzgen.
Siberch's wife had sisters who also married into the book business. One sister, Gertrud, married Franz Birckmann. He was a major book importer in Europe. Another sister, Anna, married a printer named Servaes van Sassen. These family ties connected Siberch to many important people in printing and bookselling. Through them, he met leading scholars, including Erasmus.
In 1520, Siberch asked a printer in Cologne to print a Greek grammar book. This book was written by Richard Croke. Croke had just started teaching Greek at the University of Cambridge. It is believed that Croke convinced Siberch to move to Cambridge. He wanted Siberch to set up a printing press there.
Printing in Cambridge
In 1521, Siberch received a loan of £20 from the university. Four people helped guarantee this loan, including Henry Bullock. Bullock was a fellow at Queens' College and later became the university's vice-chancellor. With this money, Siberch started his business. He sold books, bound them, and printed them. His shop was in a building called the King's Arms. Today, this spot is part of Gonville & Caius College.
Siberch did not print many books in Cambridge. However, the people involved with his books were very important. They included church leaders like bishops John Fisher and Nicholas West. He also worked with government officials like Richard Pace, who was King Henry VIII's Secretary of State. The king's doctor, Thomas Linacre, was also among them. Most importantly, he worked with the famous scholar Desiderch Erasmus and his friends.
The books Siberch printed were about big issues of the time. These included religious changes and new ways of learning. To earn more money, he also printed popular books. These included a Latin grammar for schools, poetry, and an almanac. He also did small printing jobs, like documents for religious groups. Some of his leather book bindings, with his initials, still exist today.
Siberch's time in Cambridge was short. It seems his business was not a big success. His wife died while they were in England. After 1523, there are no more records of him in Cambridge.
Later Life and Return Home
Siberch might have spent some time in Cologne after leaving Cambridge. He visited Siegburg in 1526. By 1538, he had become a priest. His daughter Baetzgen married an Englishman. Records suggest Siberch returned to England. He served as a priest in the parish of St Olave, Southwark, from about 1529 to 1540.
By 1544, he had settled back in Siegburg. He worked as a priest at St Servatius church. He likely died and was buried there shortly before September 28, 1554.
John Siberch's Printed Works
Here are some of the items Siberch printed in Cambridge:
- Doctissimi viri Henrici Bulloci ... oratio habita Cātabrigiae ... ad reverendiss. D. Thomā Cardinalem ... (1521)
* This was a welcome speech by Henry Bullock for Cardinal Wolsey. Wolsey visited Cambridge in 1520.
- Cuiusdā fidelis Christiani epistola, ad Christianos oēs ..., subsequitur & divi Augustini de miseria, ac brevitate huius mortalis vitae, sermo ... (1521)
* This book contained an anonymous letter from a Christian. It also had a sermon by Augustine of Hippo. The sermon was about how short and difficult human life can be.
- Lepidissimum Luciani opusculū περὶ διψὰδων, Henrico Bulloco interprete, Oratio eiusdem ... (1521)
* This was a writing by Lucian about poisonous snakes. It was translated from Greek by Bullock. It also included a reprint of Bullock's speech to Wolsey.
- Reverendissimi ... Balduini ... de venerabili ac divinissimo altaris sacramento sermo ... (1521)
* This book contained a sermon by Baldwin of Forde. He was an archbishop from the 1100s. The sermon was about the holy sacrament.
- Libellus de conscribendis epistolis, auctore D. Erasmo ... (1521)
* This was a guide on how to write letters, written by Erasmus.
- Galeni Pergamensis de temperamentis, et de inaequali intemperie libri tres Thoma Linacro interprete (1521)
* This was a translation by Thomas Linacre of two medical writings by Galen.
- Contio quam Anglice habuit ... Ioannes Roffensis episcopus ... eo die, quo Martini Lutheri scripta ... in ignem coniecta sunt, versa in Latinum per Richardum Pacaeum ... (1522)
* This was a Latin translation by Richard Pace. It was a speech given by John Fisher, the bishop of Rochester. He gave the speech when Martin Luther's books were burned in London.
- Papyrii Gemini Eleatis Hermathena, seu De Eloquentia victoria (1522)
* This was a humanist story. It is thought to be written by people like Sir Thomas Elyot and Richard Croke.
- [De octo partium orationis constructione libellus, by William Lily and Erasmus ([1523?])]
* This was a small part of a Latin grammar book. It was found inside the binding of another book.
- [First eclogue, by Alexander Barclay ([1523?])]
* These were four small pieces of a poem. They were found inside the binding of other books.
- [Almanac for the year 1524 ([1523?])]
* This was a small piece of an almanac for the year 1524. It was found inside the binding of a book.
- [Indulgence for the Benedictine Nunnery of St Michael Without, Stamford ([1523?])]
* This was a piece of a document for a Benedictine nunnery. It was found inside the binding of a book.
- [Letter of fraternity for an unknown religious house ([1523?])]
* These were pieces of a letter for a religious house. They were found inside the binding of a book.
Siberch is not known to have printed anything before or after his time in Cambridge.
