Andrew White Tuer, the founder of the Leadenhall Press, was born in 1838 in Sunderland, England. He originally trained to be a doctor and worked briefly at a London hospital, before deciding to turn his amateur experience with printing into his career. He founded the firm Field and Tuer around 1862 with already established printer and stationer Abraham Field, and they produced books and other publications heavily influenced by Tuer's antiquarian interests in design and typography. They operated the Leadenhall Press out of 50 Leadenhall Street, London for nearly 40 years and became well-known for their fascimile editions of popular 18th-century books, especially those for children.

Tuer also invented a number of items related to the world of books and publishing, including Stickphast Paste, a wheat-based paste, and the Author's Paper Pad, which was possibly one of the first writing pads designed to have perforated, tear-off sheets.

In 1872, Tuer began printing the quarterly Paper & Printing Trades Journal, which was followed in 1880 by the Printers' International Specimen Exchange, which sought to expose printers to new work being done in their field. The Exchange functioned by asking printers and apprentices to send multiple copies of their work; at the end of the submission period, they would then receive a volume containing one sample from each participant.

Tuer also published his own writing including the books Luxurious Bathing, Bartolozzi and his Works, and History of the Horn-Book, as well as books like the elaborate printing joke Quads within Quads. Quads within Quads, like much of Tuer's graphic design work, reflected his sense of whimsy and his interest in incorporating antiquarian designs and themes.

Tuer married amateur opera singer Thomasine Louisa Louttit in 1867; they had no children. Tuer died in London in 1900. After Tuer's death, Thomasine was named the godmother of J.P.T. (John Patrick Tuer) Bury in 1908; Bury was a historian of modern France, but would go on to write multiple articles about Tuer and collect his work (photographs of his collection and copies of his articles are included here).

(Sources consulted: Oxford Dictionary of National Biography, Wikipedia)