Though there were steam engines before Watt, and steamboats before Fulton, and steam locomotives before Stephenson, there were no steam printing presses before Koenig with which to compare them, Koenig's was undoubtedly the first, and stood unequalled and alone.
The rest of Koenig's life, after he retired to Germany, was spent in industry, if not in peace and quietness.

He could not fail to be cast down by the utter failure of his English partnership, and the loss of the fruits of his ingenious labours.

But instead of brooding over his troubles, he determined to break away from them, and begin the world anew.

He was only forty-three when he left England, and he might yet be able to establish himself prosperously in life.

He had his own head and hands to help him.
Though England was virtually closed against him, the whole continent of Europe was open to him, and presented a wide field for the sale of his printing machines.
While residing in England, Koenig had received many communications from influential printers in Germany.