Chapter I: Front Matter

Early Typography.

PRINTED AT COLOMBO,
BY WILLIAM SKEEN, GOVERNMENT PRINTER,
CEYLON.

EARLY TYPOGRAPHY.

BY
WILLIAM SKEEN.

COLOMBO: CEYLON.
1872.

The accumulation of materials in the writer’s hands in the course of the last twelve months, has induced him to depart from his original intention of limiting his labours to a single book. A sketch of the history of the spread of the Art, after the sack of Mentz in 1462, with notices of the most material improvements and recent inventions connected with it, will, consequently, form the subjects of a separate volume. It only remains for him now thankfully to acknowledge his obligations to Mrs. J. Ferguson, and Messrs. Iliff, Ronald, and Paatz, of Colombo, for their most kindly rendered assistance, by which he has been enabled to complete this portion of his work much earlier than he otherwise could have done.

_January_ 20, 1872.

INVENTORS of the Art Sublime
Which Knowledge spreads thro’ every clime;
Who far the fabled god excell’d,
Prometheus, from heaven expell’d.
Material fire _he_ brought to earth,
_They_ flames of a diviner birth
Drew from the seven-fold source of light
Seen in the Patmos vision bright,
When, the celestial portals raised,
Man, on the Godhead’s glories gazed.
Majestic Truth they thus reveal’d,
By powers of Darkness long conceal’d;
Ope’d Freedom’s doors to fetter’d Thought
And forces into conflict brought--
Mind against mind--an eager fray
That shall not cease till Time’s last day;
That keener as the contest grows,
Truth greater, purer, mightier shews.
Thus Knowledge each successive age
Advances, wins an onward stage,
And gathers in one focus bright
Each fresh struck spark, each ray of light,
And clears the mists that still are found
Historic names and deeds around.
This light, that truth reveals, t’ impart,
I seek, Disciple of the Art;
That to the famed Teutonic three
Just meeds of praise may given be;
That all aright the men may know
To whom TYPOGRAPHY we owe;
The men whose names immortal ring,
Whose gifts transcendent blessings bring,
Whose monuments in every land
By wisdom rear’d, heart-honor’d stand,
Inscribed in tongues of every clime--
“INVENTORS OF THE ART SUBLIME!”

W. S.

CONTENTS.

PAGE.

PREFACE 9

CHAPTER I.--Introductory.--Letter-press Printing the
“Divine and Noble” Art--why so termed.--Freedom
of the Press--where first proclaimed.--Printing
known in China from time immemorial.--Method of
Chinese Printing.--Bibliography and Palæotypography. 11

CHAPTER II.--Date of the Origin of Typography in
Europe.--Alleged Early Engravings.--Playing
Cards.--Block-books.--Mr. F. Holt’s Hypothesis.--Evidence
of Costume.--German “Brief-malers.”--Decree of Government
of Venice.--State of Europe in the Middle Ages.--Cultivation
of Classical Literature at the close of the Fourteenth and
commencement of the Fifteenth Century. 35

CHAPTER III.--John Gutenberg.--First attempts at
Typography in Strasburg.--Difficulties.--Invention of
the Press.--Lawsuit.--Return to Mentz.--Connection
with Faust.--Success.--Mazarin Bible the first Book
printed from Separable Metal Types.--Second
Lawsuit.--Forfeiture of Plant to Faust.--Peter
Schœffer.--Invention of Type-founding.--Faust and
Schœffer.--The Gutenberg “Printing-house.”--Gutenberg
attached to the Court of the Elector of Mentz.--His
Death. 68

CHAPTER IV.--The claims of Coster and Haarlem considered,
as opposed to those of Gutenberg and Mentz.--Claims
based upon Tradition.--No Contemporary Authorities in
their favor.--Abundance of such testimony in favor of
Gutenberg and Mentz.--Probable Origin of
Tradition.--Block-books.--Speculum Humanæ
Salvationis.--Evidence of the Types: wood or metal;
cut or cast?--Books “Jettez en molle.”--Age of the
Paper.--Date of Costume.--Fraternity of Brethren and
Clerks of the Common Life. 201

CHAPTER V.--The works of Faust and Schœffer.--Legend
of the Printer’s Devil.--Monuments in Germany to
Gutenberg, Faust and Schœffer.--Separable Letters
first invented in China.--Characteristics of Ancient
Printed Books.--The “Composing-stick” and
“Setting-rule.”--Early Bindings. 349

APPENDIX.

I.--Account of the Origin of Printing, by J. F. Faust of
Aschaffenberg 393

II.------------------------------by Hadrian Junius 404

III.--Dr. Van Der Linde’s Haarlem-Coster-Legend 408

IV.--Cut Wooden, _versus_ Cast Metal Types 415

ERRATA 424