Froben, Johann (c. 1460–1527)

German printer. He founded a printing office in Basel, Germany, in 1491 and issued about 300 works, including the New Testament in Greek (1516), used by Martin Luther for his translation, and editions of St Jerome, St Cyprian, Tertullian, St Ambrose, and Erasmus. Some of his texts are illustrated by Hans Holbein.

Basel was the leading centre of the German book trade in the 16th century, largely because of Froben. After his death, Froben's printing business was carried on by his sons and grandsons until 1603.