Alois Senefelder, not only the inventor, but the father and perfecter of Lithography, wrote this story of his life and his invention in 1817. The translator has followed his style closely, because he felt that the readers would prefer to have this English edition represent Senefelder's original German faithfully.

When Senefelder wrote, he had to invent many names for the processes, manipulation-methods, and tools. These terms have been translated literally even where modern practice has adopted other names.

The original German edition carried the following title-page:—

"Complete " Text-Book of Stone-Printing " containing " a Correct and Lucid Instruction " for all " Various Manipulations in all its Branches and Methods " and also a " Full History of this Art " from its Origin to the Present Day. " Written and Published " by the Inventor of Lithography and Chemical Printing, " Alois Senefelder. " With a Preface by the General-Secretary of the Royal Academy of Sciences in " Munich, the Director " Friederich von Schlichtegroll " Munich, 1821 " Obtainable from the Author and from E. A. Fleischmann" "

The book was dedicated by Senefelder to Maximilian Joseph, then King of Bavaria.

July, 1911.