Anton Koberger opened a print workshop in Nuremberg in 1472. It was already organised like a factory and soon had at least 15 printing presses and was efficient enough to manage printing Schedel’s Weltchronik (Wolrd Chronicle), a huge work with around 1,800 woodcut illustrations printed in Latin and German. A total of almost 250 works printed by Koberger are known, which were also delivered with book decoration or bound upon request. The printworks had altogether 30 type alphabets at its disposal.

Koberger closed the printworks in 1504, as it had become unprofitable after the emergence of numerous works producing reprints meant too much competition. He then turned completely towards his publishing house and the book trade. His great achievement was to disseminate books on an economical basis by creating a Europewide book culture that made clever use of the limited transport and communication channels. He made good business after 1512 publishing popular small-format copies of the Book of Hours, illustrated by the students of Albrecht Dürer. He died a rich and respected businessman and patrician in his home town.