Chapter IX: The Early English Presses

In the short time that intervened between the invention of printing by means of movable type and the end of the fifteenth century some 20,000 different works are known to have been issued from the European press. Many copies of these are doubtless hidden away in old lumber rooms, or in the recesses of imperfectly catalogued libraries of obscure and decaying towns. Some have altogether perished, leaving no trace of their ephemeral existence; others are known by name, but have themselves vanished as effectually as if they had never existed. What, for instance, has become of the fifteen books of Ovid's _Metamorphoses_ which Caxton, in his preface to the _Golden Legende_, says that he printed? Hitherto no copy has been unearthed, nor any fragment of a copy. Where is the _Lyfe of Robert Erle of Oxenford_ mentioned in the preface to the _Four Sons of Aymon_? What was the great printer doing between the years 1486-8, during which time, so far as can be discovered, he printed nothing? These and many similar questions are important, as raising a very strong probability that the bibliography of Caxton is very far from being complete. The same remarks apply more or less to nearly every other fifteenth century printer. There is a field here which has never been fully explored, and which, in all probability, never will be until some Augustus shall arise, and by a wave of his hand throw open the dwellings, the libraries, and even the outhouses of the world to his troop of eager agents. In the meantime, a single discovery of a hitherto unknown book of the fifteenth century acquires an importance proportionate to the exceptional nature of the occurrence; and though the book hunter never despairs, he knows only too well that such rarities fall only to fortunate mortals like the French bibliophile Resbecq, whose extraordinary luck was proverbial, or to those whose ignorance is so dense that they seem provided, as compensation, with more than a fair share of attractive power. It seems a pity that the unappreciative should often obtain chances which are denied to those who could utilise them to advantage, but it is often the case. The merest tyro sometimes experiences a success which the experienced bibliophile sighs for in vain.

Glowing as this picture appears, the collector must not run away with the idea that all early printed books are valuable. Some, even of the fifteenth century, are not worth an Englishman's ransom by a long way. The question of value depends mainly on the name of, and the degree of reputation acquired by, the printer. Thus, books printed by Fust and Schoeffer, Gutenberg and Fust, Sweynham and Pannartz, and many others of the oldest continental printers, are scarce and valuable in the extreme; so are any books from the presses of the early English printers. On the other hand, the Estienne, Giunta, and Plantin presses are comparatively neglected. Here, again, it is a question of reputation, only, in this case, the inquiry is directed not to the book itself, but to the printer, a reversal of the usual rule, and one that is productive of an extraordinary result, namely, that trivial books are often the most valuable, simply because they have not been worth keeping. Let no one, then, look, in the first instance, to the character of an early printed book, but let him rather study that of the craftsman, keeping in mind the current of popular favour and the direction in which it flows. If he does this, he will find that, so far as this country is concerned, there is a scope amply sufficient to satisfy the most earnest aspirations. The long line of printers from Caxton, in 1477, to Day, in 1546, and, in a lesser degree, those of the subsequent fifty years, discloses names which are graven on the heart of the collector, who often accounts himself fortunate if he can procure a single specimen from the early English press. As the chance of his doing so, though remote, is by no means impossible, seeing that copies are frequently offered for sale while many others must be hidden away, it is necessary that he should have some ideas of his own. To let slip a chance which fortune throws in his way, and which may never occur again, would be productive of never-ending regret, especially as, with a little care and attention, there is no reason why such a disaster should occur.

The subject of the early English press could not, of course, be entered upon fully without occupying considerable space, and I must content myself with such a _resume_ as can conveniently be compressed within the compass of a few pages.

It is worthy of note that many of these old English printers were, like Aldus Manutius, editors as well. In the early days labour was not divided as it is now, and it is well known that Caxton, for example, not merely translated many of his publications, but cast his own type and bound the sheets when ready for publication. Each of these processes was perfected in his own office, and so well that to this day his handiwork is seldom surpassed. Improved apparatus cannot always hold its own against manual dexterity--an observation which becomes more than ever accentuated when we apply it to the art of Typography, perfect in its results almost from infancy.

WILLIAM CAXTON, 1474(?).

Caxton, as, indeed, many of the other printers whose names are subsequently mentioned, used several devices, of which, I think, it will be sufficient to give the chief. This pioneer English printer learned his art during the years 1474-5 in the office of Colard Mansion at Bruges. Sometime about the year 1477 he established himself as a printer at Westminster, where he died in 1491. There are certain distinguishing features by which any of Caxton's works may be known, even if the colophon is lost or the book a mere fragment. His type is _always_ Gothic or old English; he never used catchwords nor commas; and although works from the press of Lettou and Machlinia of London (1480) are exactly like Caxton's in these respects, the measurement of any given space occupied by 20 or 22 lines, according to the description of type used, varies considerably. Since 1819, some twenty hitherto unknown works by Caxton have been identified by the measurement test, for a full explanation of which the collector is referred to Blades' _Life of Caxton_.

Among the works printed by this great master may be mentioned the following, which have brought the prices affixed at auction, within the last few years:--

_The Game and Playe of Chesse_, small folio, 31st March, 1474,
the first book of Caxton with a date, and a perfect copy, but
wanting the two blank leaves (10-1/8 in. x 7-1/8 in.), old
calf, L645.

_Dictes and Sayinges of the Philosophers_ (11-1/2 in. x 8 in.),
1477, folio, morocco extra, perfect, L650.

_Higden's Discripcion of Britayne_, evidently made up from two
imperfect copies (11-1/2 in. x 8 in.), morocco extra, 1480,
folio, L195.

_Chronicles of Englonde_, 1480, folio, wanted part of the index
and otherwise greatly imperfect, L67; another copy (9-1/2 in x
7 in.), perfect, L470.

_Higden's Polychronicon_, 1482, 4to, a very imperfect copy,
containing only 205 leaves, L31.

_Ryal Book, or Book for a King_, perfect, but several leaves
mended (11-1/8 in. x 8-1/8 in.), no date (1487?), folio, L365.

_The Prouffitable Boke for Mannes Soule, called The Chastysing
of Goddes Children_, no date, folio, quite complete; and
another called _The Tretyse of the Love of Jhesu Christ by_
_Wynkyn de Worde_, 1493, folio, both in one volume, L305.

_Boecius de Consolacione Philosophie_, in Latin and English, a
complete copy, several leaves stained (10-3/4 in. x 7-1/2 in.),
old calf, no date, folio, L156.

Contemporary with Caxton were the printers Lettou and Machlinia, previously mentioned, who carried on business in the city of London, where they established a press in 1480. Machlinia had previously worked under Caxton. Their productions are scarce, but not so much so as those of Caxton. An inferior copy of their _Vieux Abrigement des Statutes_, no date, but about 1481, folio, sold by auction in August, 1887, for L8 10s., and occasionally other and better specimens may be picked up for two or three times that amount.

WYNKYN DE WORDE, 1491.

In all probability this famous printer was one of Caxton's assistants or workmen, when the latter was living at Bruges, but without doubt he was employed in his office at Westminster until 1491, when he commenced business on his own account, having in his possession a considerable quantity of Caxton's type. Wynkyn de Worde, who was one of the founders of the Stationers' Company, died in 1534, after having printed no less than 410 books known to bibliographers, the earliest of which bearing a date is the _Liber Festivalis_, 4to, 1493. The whole of these works, especially when in good condition, are excessively scarce, and invariably bring high prices. A wormed copy of the _Descrypcion of Englonde, Wales, and Scotlonde_ brought L10 at the Gibson Craig sale in July, 1887, and the _Vitas Patrum_, 1495, folio, L71, at the Crawford sale in the same month. Voragine's _Golden Legend_, printed by de Worde in 1527, brought L81 a short time ago; his _Higden's Polychronicon_, 1495, folio, wanting title, L16 5s.; the _Nova Legenda Anglie_, 1516, folio (wormed), L28; and Dame Juliana Berner's _Fysyhing with an Angle_, 1496, folio (frontispiece inlaid), L120.

RICHARD PYNSON, 1493.

This early English printer was by birth a Norman, but became naturalised in England by letters patent and was appointed king's printer. He was the first to introduce the Roman letter into this country, though this honour is by some attributed to Wynkyn de Worde. The Italian penmen of the fifteenth century furnished the model for the round character which has been successively adopted in most of the typographical foundries since the days of Pynson, and which is known as the Roman character; and these penmen are supposed to have imitated the writing of the Carlovingian MSS. Thus the small alphabet used by our printers is a copy of that adopted in the churches of France in the time of Charlemagne.

Among Pynson's works may be mentioned the following. The prices affixed have, as before, been realised at auction within the last few years.

Sebastian Brant's _Shyp of Folys of the Worlde_, translated by
Barclay, black letter, woodcuts, morocco extra, imperfect,
1509, folio, L23.

_Jeronimi de Sancto Marcho Opusculum_, &c., woodcut signs of
the Zodiac and Pynson's device on title, a fine copy in morocco
extra, bound by Bedford (1509), 4to, L85.

_Intrationum Liber_, woodcut of royal arms, perfect, old
russia, 1510, folio, L36 15s.

JULIAN NOTARY, 1498.

The periods of the birth and death of this ancient typographical artist are entirely unknown. One of his books, the _Missale Secundum vsvm Sarvm_, dates from Westminster, the 20th December, 1498, and one or two others are dated 1520, so that it is safe to say that he flourished between those dates. One of the most extraordinary books issued at this early time is the _Shepherd's Calendar_, printed by Julian Notary. It is full of quaint woodcuts, illustrative of religious myths, which, considering the times, are excellently executed. An edition of this calendar was also printed and published by Richard Pynson. The total number of books known to have been printed by Julian Notary is 23.

WILLIAM FAQUES, 1499.

This printer is known in connection with a few books, about half-a-dozen in number, which, as usual, are excessively scarce and very valuable. The dates of his birth and death are uncertain. The first of his books, however, is dated 1499, and the last 1508.

RICHARD FAWKES, 1509.

Although the date of the first book printed by Richard Fawkes is given as 1509, it is more than likely that the date on the title-page (_Salus Corporis, Salus Anime_, folio, 1509) is a misprint. The next in point of date is a book of _Hours_, 1521, and it is hardly likely that twelve years should have elapsed without his printing anything. Still, time has spared such a few of this printer's publications that it is quite possible the date may be correct. Specimens from Fawkes' press are excessively rare, none having been offered for sale, so far as I am aware, for many years.

PETER TREVERIS, 1514.

Our information about this printer is very meagre, so much so that little seems to be known of him beyond the fact that he was the first printer in the borough of Southwark. He printed for John Reynes, a bookseller in St. Paul's Churchyard in 1527; also for Laurence Andrewe, who carried on business in Fleet Street about the same date. Anthony a Wood, in his _History and Antiquities of Oxford_, says that Treveris printed some of Whitinton's pieces there in 1527, but no evidence of the fact appears to be forthcoming. The first book known to have issued from his press is the _Disticha Moralia_, 4to, 1514, though some bibliographers deny that Treveris was the printer. The whole number of his productions, inclusive of the grammatical treatises of Whitinton, which, on the authority of Wood and for purposes of convenience, are ascribed to him, does not amount to 30. They are, as usual, very scarce.

_The Grete herball whiche gyueth parfyt Knowledge_, &c., black
letter, woodcuts, badly cut down, 1529, folio, L5.

ROBERT COPLAND, 1515.

This printer was one of the assistants of Wynkyn de Worde, and a legatee under his will. He was also a stationer and bookseller, dwelling at the Rose Garland in Fleet Street, where he carried on business from about 1515 to the year 1547 or beginning of 1548. His productions are not only few in number, but very rarely ever met with. He seems to have been fond of small and fugitive pieces, of which, doubtless, a large number have perished owing to the popularity which formerly attended publications of this kind. The number of his works catalogued by Ames amounts to 12. This printer must not be confounded with William Copland (_post_), whose productions are, comparatively speaking, common.

JOHN RASTELL, 1520.

According to Bale, this printer was a citizen of London, and married the sister of Sir Thomas More. The date of his birth is not known, but he died in 1536, leaving two sons, one of whom, William, succeeded to his business. Ames mentions 31 works printed by John Rastell and 15 by William, and among the former is the famous _Pastyme of People, or Cronycles of Englond_, of which only three perfect copies are known to exist. A fac-simile reprint was issued in 1811 by Dr. Dibdin. An original copy of this work, which contains 18 woodcut full-length portraits of the kings, was, though imperfect, sold at the Wimpole sale, in June, 1888, for as much as L79. A copy of the reprint is worth about 30s.

JOHN SKOT, 1521.

Books printed by this workman, which are only 13 in number, are seldom seen. Much--and probably it is no exaggeration to say, most--of the work of the English printers of the fifteenth and sixteenth centuries has been destroyed, and it is probable that between the years 1521 and 1537, when John Skot, or Scott, as he sometimes spelled his name, is known to have been working, a large number of publications was issued from his press, of which not a trace remains. There is a good copy of the diminutive tract known as _The Rosary_, printed by Skot in 1537, in the library of Earl Spencer at Althorpe.

ROBERT REDMAN, 1523.

Robert Redman set up a printing press at the house quitted by Pynson, just outside Temple Bar, and called the George. He seems also to have adopted a colourable imitation of his device, and altogether to have taken great advantage of his opportunities to undermine the business of his rival. In the 1525 edition of _Lyttleton's Tenures_, printed by Pynson, the latter takes Redman roundly to task, and in an edition of _Magna Charter_, dated 1527, a similar strain of abuse is maintained. The first book known to have been printed by Redman bears date 1523. He died somewhere about the year 1540.

Fitzherbert's _Diuersite de Courtes_, black letter, 24 ff.,
1528, 16mo, L2 10s.

ROBERT WYER, 1527.

This prolific printer was in business, "in the felde besyde Charynge Crosse," from 1527 to about 1542, but as the greater number of his books were published without dates, it is possible that he may have lived beyond the year given. The number of his books catalogued amounts to 68, and they consist chiefly of treatises on Astrology, Medicine, and, more rarely, Poetry.

THOMAS BERTHELET, 1530.

Towards the middle of the sixteenth century the popular demand for biblical legends and treatises on scholastic divinity began to decline, and a taste for classical literature to take its place. The productions of Berthelet, which give evidence of the improvement in this respect to no slight degree, are intrinsically valuable, as well as unusually numerous. Berthelet died about Christmas, 1555, as appears by an entry in the Stationers' Hall books for 26th of January, 1555-6. The number of his works, as catalogued, amounts to 190.

_The Praise of Folie_, by Erasmus, translated by Chaloner,
black letter, wormed, and title mended, 1549, 4to, L2 8s.

Gower's _De Confessione Amantis_, black letter, Berthelet's
first edition, wormed, oak boards, covered in stamped leather,
1532, folio, L8.

_Institution of a Christen Man_, black letter, woodcut border
to title by Holbein, morocco extra, 1537, 4to, L22 10s.

_Necessary Doctrine and Erudition for any Christen man_, black
letter, morocco extra, 1543, 4to, L12.

_Psalms or Prayers_, black letter, wanting title and signature
Lv, calf, no date (1548), 8vo, L10 5s.

_Henrici VIII. Pia et Catholica Christiani Hominis Institutio_,
morocco extra, by Pratt, fine copy, 1544, 4to, L5 5s.

JOHN BYDDELL, 1533.

John Byddell first carried on business at the sign of "Our Lady of Pity," and seems to have borrowed his device from one of the earlier pages of Corio's _History of Milan_, 1505. Subsequently he removed to the "Sun," in Fleet Street, formerly occupied by Wynkyn de Worde. This printer died somewhere about 1544, having published 29 volumes, according to Ames, most of which are of a serious character.

_Prymer in Englishe, with Calendar and Almanake_ (1535-54),
black letter, title in fac-simile, russia extra, 16th June,
1535, 4to, L97.

_Bible in English_ (by R. Tavener), black letter, several
leaves mended, morocco extra, by Bedford, folio, 1539, L57.

RICHARD GRAFTON, 1537.

Richard Grafton, the king's printer, was at one time a citizen and grocer of London, and seems to have been brought up as a merchant. He commenced business as a printer with Edward Whitchurche in or about the year 1537, and from that date to 1541 they continually printed in partnership. The dissolution was probably due to the persecution to which they were subjected on account of the Act of the Six Articles. Whitchurche, whose device is given below, is said to have married the widow of Archbishop Cranmer, and is known to have been living in 1560. Grafton, who was continually in difficulties, and on one occasion narrowly escaped with his life, is supposed to have died about the year 1572.

_Boke of Common Praier_, black letter, blue morocco extra, by
Riviere, August, 1552, folio, L60.

_Primer in Englishe_ (black letter) _and Latyn_ (roman type),
brown morocco extra, by Bedford, 1545, 4to, L28.

_Orarium seu Libellus Precationum_, woodcuts, blue morocco,
16mo, 1546, L20 10s.

Marbeck's _Concordance of the Bible_, black letter, title
inlaid, russia, small folio, 1550, L1 6s.

Halle's _Chronicle_, black letter, russia extra, by Bedford,
folio, 1550, L9.

Harding's _Chronicle_, black letter, morocco extra, by Bedford,
1543, 4to, L11 5s.

_The Order of the Communion_, black letter, wanted title,
morocco, 8th March, 1548, sm. 4to (the only copy known), L55.

EDWARD WHITCHURCHE, 1537.

_Byble in Englyshe_ (Cranmer's), black letter, cut down at the
top, morocco extra, by Bedford, folio, 1541, L50.

_Booke of Common Prayer_, black letter, first edition of Edward
VI.'s Prayer Book, with the rare order for the price, a fine
copy in blue morocco extra, folio, 1549, L155.

_Boke of Common Prayer_, second edition of Edward VI.'s Prayer
Book, a fine copy in blue morocco, folio, 1552, L100.

_Book of Prayers used in the Queen's_ (Catherine Parr's)
_House_, black letter, a fragment of an unknown edition, 32mo,
1550, L2.

Grafton and Whitchurche, in conjunction, printed the first issue of the _Great_ or _Cromwell's Bible_, a folio book dated 1539, a fair copy of which was sold at the Crawford sale for L111; also the _New Testament, both in Latin and English, after the vulgare texte_ (Coverdale's version), 1538-39, 8vo, partly printed at Paris by Regnault and completed in London. Nearly the entire impression was seized and burnt by order of the Inquisition, and the few copies that remain are extraordinarily rare and valuable.

JOHN WAYLANDE, 1537.

A printer who, according to the best authorities, lived at the sign of the "Blue Garland in Fleet Street," and, in the year 1541, at the sign of the "Sun, against the Conduit". He was in business in 1558.

_The Primer in English and Latin, after Salisburye Use_, some
leaves in fac-simile, bound by Riviere in morocco, 22nd August,
1558, 12mo, L20.

_Tragedies of all such Princes as fell from their estates
throughe the Mutabilitie of Fortune, translated into Englysh by
John Lidgate_, black letter, some leaves mended, no date,
folio, L4 10s.

_Prymer in Latin and Englishe ...and Almanacke_ (1555-71), black
letter, brown morocco extra, by Riviere, 1555, sm. 4to, L27.

_Prymer in Englishe_ (black letter) _and Latine_ (roman type),
_after Salisbury Use, with Calendar, &c._, woodcuts, calf, 1557,
16mo (only six copies are known), L13.

_Prymer in Englyshe, with Calendar_, black letter, title in
fac-simile, brown morocco extra, _Ihon Mayler for Ihon
Waylande_, 1539, sm. 4to (only four copies are known), L91.

WILLIAM MYDDYLTON, 1541.

William Myddylton, or Middleton, succeeded to the business of Robert Redman, which he carried on at the sign of the "George, next to St. Dunstan's Church, in Fleet Street". This printer turned out some 30 different publications, known to bibliographers. There is no doubt, however, that many more must be lost, or remain undiscovered. Myddylton probably died somewhere about the year 1550. Another printer, by name Henry Middleton, flourished about the year 1579. His works are scarce, but not nearly so valuable as those of William.

Froissart's _Cronycles of Englande, &c._, translated by
Bourchier, 2 vols., black letter, 1525, folio, russia extra,
(printed by Myddylton and Pinson), L9 12s.

REYNOLD WOLFE, 1542.

The king's printer, was in all probability a foreigner by extraction, if not by birth. He commenced printing in 1542, but a great portion of his time was spent in collecting materials for an _Universal Cosmography of all Nations_, which, though undigested at his death in 1573, laid the foundation for Holinshed's _Chronicles_. His works are described as being 59 in number, and, as is always the case where any specimens from the presses of early English printers are concerned, are scarce and valuable. After the death of Reynold, his widow, Joan, printed three books, which bear her name. The last of these is dated in 1580, about which time, doubtless, the press ceased to exist.

Care must be taken that this printer is not confounded with others of the same name, who, for the most part, carried on business in France and Holland.

JOHN DAY, 1546.

Next to Caxton and Wynkyn de Worde, this printer certainly ranks the highest in the opinion of bibliographers. Herbert says that Day first began printing a little above Holborn Conduit, and about 1549 removed to Aldersgate. He kept also at the same time several shops in different parts of the town, where his books were sold. Day was the first printer who used Saxon characters, and brought those of the Greek and Italic to perfection. He died in 1584 after having followed the business of a printer for nearly forty years.

The name of John Day will sometimes be found in conjunction with that of William Seres, but rarely, if ever, after 1550. This William Seres was a printer, who, on dissolving partnership with Day in 1550, carried on business by himself for some twenty or twenty-five years in London.

_A Short Catechism_, black letter, morocco extra, 1553, 16mo,
L12.

_Booke of Christian Prayers Collected out of the Ancient
Writers_, black letter, blue morocco extra, by Pratt, 1578,
4to, L26 10s.

_Certaine Select Prayers Gathered out of S. Augustine's
Meditations_, 2 vols., 1575, sm. 8vo, L5 15s.

_Psalmes in Metre with Music_, black letter, 1571, sm. 4to,
L140. This work was sold with another by Jugge and Cawood, and
was bound in an exceptionally fine Elizabethan style.

_Preces Privatae in Studiosorum_, first ed., 1564, 16mo, also
another edition of 1573, 16mo, in two volumes (both printed by
William Seres), L3.

WILLIAM COPLAND, 1548.

Probably a son of Robert Copland, though the relationship is very doubtful. It has been supposed that William was a younger brother of Robert, and worked in the office of the latter up to the time of his death, in the same manner as Robert worked in the office of Wynkyn de Worde. It is evident that both William and Robert used the same battered types, which they set up with an equal amount of carelessness. Notwithstanding the workmanship, however, these books are valuable, and always command high prices. The first book of William Copland's printing found with a date is the _Understandinge of the Lorde's Supper_, 1548, 8vo; and between that year and 1568, the time of his death, he is credited with over 60 different publications.

_Story of the most noble and worthy Kynge Arthur_, black
letter, woodcuts, the title and several leaves in fac-simile,
morocco extra, 1557, sm. folio, L10; another copy, quite
perfect, L30.

_The right plesaunt and goodly Historie of the foure sonnes of
Aimon_, black letter, woodcuts, the title and several leaves in
fac-simile, no date or name, but printed by W. Copland in 1554,
small folio, L14.

_Hystorie of the two Valyaunte Brethren, Valentyne and Orson_,
black letter, woodcuts, a defective copy, several leaves having
been repaired, no date, small 4to, L21.

Among the other old English printers, whose names frequently appear on the title-pages of books, may be mentioned:--

WALTER LYNNE, 1548-50, whose _Cattechismus_, in small 8vo,
1548, brought L59 in June, 1889.

RICHARD JUGGE, 1548-77, _The Holie Bible_, Bishops' Version,
black letter, 1568, folio, L70.

THOMAS MARSHE, 1549-87, _Certaine Tragicall Discourses_, black
letter, 1567, 4to, L15; also _Heywoode's Woorkes_, 1576-77,
4to, L9 9s.

JOHN CAWOOD, 1550-72, who printed the first collected edition
of _Sir Thomas More's Works_, 1557, now worth from L15 to L20,
the _Stultifera Navis_ of Brant, black letter, woodcuts, folio,
1570, L12, and many others.

RICHARD TOTTEL, 1553-94.

HUGH SINGLETON, 1553-88, _The Supplication of Doctour Barnes_,
&c., black letter, morocco extra, by Riviere, no date, 8vo,
L10.

JOHN KYNGSTON, 1553-84, the printer of the best folio edition
of _Fabian's Chronicle_, 1559.

ROWLAND HALL, 1559-63.

JOHN ALLDE, 1561-96.

ROBERT REDBORNE (cir. 1576), whose only known work is entitled
_The history of the moost noble and valyaunt knyght, Arthur, of
lytell brytayne_, folio, no date, but about 1576. Of this work
only two perfect copies are known. One sold at the Crawford
sale in June, 1889, for L27 10s.

THOMAS EST (_cir._ 1592), _Whole Booke of Psalmes_, 1592, 8vo,
L15 10s. Wilbye's _Second Set of Madrigales_, half morocco,
1609, 4to, L6. Yonge's Musica Transalpina, 1588, 4to, L7.
Yonge's _Musica Transalpina_, the seconde booke, half morocco,
1597, 4to, L11.

With the advent of the seventeenth century presses became very numerous all over England. Christopher and Robert Barker at London, and John Field at Cambridge, are perhaps the best known printers of that era, but the importance and value of their works depend upon circumstances, and cease to exist as a matter of course. It is indeed from this point that the study of English bibliography becomes more difficult and confusing, and here precisely that the young collector is apt to go astray.

The most famous English printer of modern times was undoubtedly John Baskerville; in fact, he seems to have been the only one possessed of exceptional merit. Everyone has heard of Baskerville: he rises the one solitary genius out of the multitude of labourers in the same field, and towers so high above the rest as to eclipse them entirely. Baskerville started as a printer in Birmingham in 1756, having spent hundreds of pounds in the experimental casting of type, which he ultimately brought to the highest state of perfection. Every book printed by him is a masterpiece: his paper is clear and elegant and of a very fine quality, while the uniformity of colour throughout testifies to the care taken in printing every sheet. At one time works from the Birmingham press, presided over by Baskerville, were much sought after, but of late years the fashion has changed and prices have consequently much diminished. The splendid edition of Addison's works, 4 vols., 4to, with portraits and plates, 1761, a beautiful copy bound by Derome in red morocco, brought L10 a short time ago, a depreciation of at least a third in the value, while in some other instances the fall is much more marked. Baskerville appears at one time to have studied the workmanship of the Elzevirs, and on one or two of his books, notably the _Elegantiae Latini Sermonis_ of Meursius, 1757, he has dated the title-page as from _Lugd. Bat. Typis Elzevirianis_. This little volume is a fit tribute to a family of famous printers of the seventeenth century, from a no less excellent workman of the eighteenth, and I feel certain that some day collectors will again vie with each other in collecting choice examples from his press.