Public printing

Meaning

The 1619 title page says the tract is prepared for public print “to further” or advance the undertaking. Publication presents concealed knowledge in an openly available book while the surrounding work continues to defend limits on disclosure. The title also advertises appended books on grounds of agreement and concordance. The title names two appended books, but the edition’s note n21 observes that the printed volume also contains the separately headed Summary between the Nature dialogue and the Way of Truth: three companion texts are retained. The advertised concordance is a publication claim, not proof that the companions share an author or agree on every doctrinal point. English “public printing” makes offenen truck intelligible without implying unrestricted permission to circulate every secret discussed. The printed date and Frankfurt bookseller identify this presentation, not a verified date of composition for every included text.