Laurence Coster or Laurent Janszoon Koster

. A native of Haerlem, who died about 1440. The Dutch affirm that he invented block-printing in 1430, of which, they say, he caught the idea by cutting letters upon the bark of a tree, and then impressing the same upon paper. This, however, is now generally treated as a fable, and given up by all who have considered the subject.