Andrew Hester (bef. 1528 - abt. 1558)

Born before 1528 in Palatinate, Holy Roman Empire (Germany)

Descendants

Died about 1558 after about age 30 in Tuddenham St Martin, Suffolk, England

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Biography

Andrew Hester born 1517 or 1528 in Palatinate, Germany-died 1558 in Tuddenham, Suffolk, England. Very little is known about the life and career of Andrew Hester. He worked as a bookseller and printer in London, and his bookshop was located under the sign of the White Horse near the north door of St. Paul's Churchyard in London. He was an original member of the Company of Stationers. In 1539, records show that Hester sold an edition of Primers by the Bishop of Rochester, John Hilsey. Additionally, the colophon of a quarto of the entire Bible translated by Myles Coverdale, dated to 1550, states that it was printed for Hester. Hester’s mark displayed in the Vassar library is comprised of the letters in his name, surmounted by a cross. In fact, only one of Andrew Hester’s marks is in existence today. This mark is part of the 1550 Bible, whose location of origin can be traced to Zurich, Switzerland. The entire device is rather ornate, making use of wreaths, archways, and flowers in conjunction with the monogram. His mark had the distinction of possessing the merit of being original among the other marks of the period. His Bookshop was operated from 1539-1564 . After Andrew's death his wife continued to operate the shop until 1564 when she sold it.

Sources

• Vassar College Digital Library (https://digitallibrary.vassar.edu/node/42). Hester’s mark is displayed in the Vassar library.
• The Manuall of prayers, or the prymer in Englyshe, set out at lengthe... printed for Andrew Hester....(https://www.marshlibrary.ie/catalogue/Record/15237)
• Brief Bio. Source: A Century of English Book Trade, Short Notices of All Printers (https://books.google.com/books?id=pN8-AAAAYAAJ&pg=PA71&lpg=PA71&dq=A+hester+printer+london&source=bl&ots=JueaTgXO2d&sig=W0rV6Yu_i6BS5mHM1Gduo9e6D5g&hl=en&sa=X&ved=0ahUKEwinub-yvcDQAhXC24MKHYZQDQcQ6AEIHjAC#v=onepage&q=A%20hester%20printer%20london&f=false)
• The Primer in English. Source:The Bibliographer's Manual of English Literature, Volume 2. London:William Pickering. MDCCCXXXIV By William Thomas Lowndes.
• Image: Andrew Hester's Printer's Mark: North Corridor. Library of Congress Thomas Jefferson Building, Washington, D.C.