Erhard Ratdolt

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Erhard Ratdolt

1447-1528

German printer and type-cutter who published the first book using more than two different colors of ink on one page. In 1482, Ratdolt printed an edition of the Elements by Euclid (c. 325-c. 250 b.c.), which was the first printed book illustrated with geometric figures. Three years later, in 1485, he published De sphaera by English mathematician Johannes de Sacrobosco (a.k.a. John of Holywood, c. 1200-1256), which contained pages using more than two colors. Ratdolt was also the originator of the decorated title page.