The first printed book published in Venice appeared in 1469. Ten years later, the city had the largest output of incunabula in Europe. This article aims to analyse Venetian book production between 1469 and 1500, thanks to a database that combines data from ISTC and other information. It makes it possible to better understand how printing became established in Venice. Venetian printers worked for scholars all over Europe, with a strong speciality in law and literature. However, the end of the period shows how the new industry was able to adapt and conquer new markets. This article also analyses the ways in which the printing world developed from a monopolistic structure into a far more fragmented economy.