The aim of this thesis is to examine Sven Almqvist’s research on the 17th century book printer Johann Kankel who was employed by count Per Brahe the younger on the island of Visingsö. A model to describe the communications circuit, constructed by book historians Thomas R. Adams and Nicolas Barker are used as well as the historical source criticism method. This model consists of the five phases: publication, manufacture, distribution, reception and survival. All of these phases are influenced by external forces such as commercial pressures or social behaviour and taste. It is not only Almqvist’s study that is being examined. This thesis discusses also the primary sources and publications preceding of Almqvist’s study. Since Almqvist’s publication of 1965 is the latest contribution to information about Johann Kankel it is an important task to evaluate his study and to shed light upon possible new fields of research about the printing office of Visingsö. Furthermore the conditions of 17th century Sweden are briefly described, such as the four estates, gothicismus, censorship and publishing. Almqvist used mainly primary sources when describing life and work of book printer Kankel. The result of his study hasn’t therefore been greatly influenced by previous publications. In a few isolated cases the lack of primary sources permits free scope for speculation. Distribution, reception and survival as described by Adams & Barker are the most neglected phases in Almqvist’s study. These overlooked areas are therefore possible new research topics.