Re: Hermathena and Cicero

Conrad wrote (quite a while ago ;-):

> Incidentally, bronze was used for experiments in early letterpress
> (moveable type) printing in Korea, before Gutenberg invented his
> implementation with alloys of lead and tin (whether Gutenberg used
> antimony as in later type metal, I can't recall).

Very interesting (especially about Korea).

The other day (while following up on some more of my scholarly 
minutiae ;-) I ended up re-reading some early-C18 essays on the 
origins of printing published in the Royal Society's _Philosophical 
Transactions_.

I've been planning for a very long while to provide digital edns. of 
these at she-philosopher.com, but I'm not able to post anything more 
there now until I can find the time (and energy!) to develop new 
templates for tableless page layouts with Dreamweaver. (I've converted 
enough other websites by now from old tables-based designs to the new 
CSS page layouts that I know all too well how daunting this will be, 
and am procrastinating even more than usual.)

So, more ASCII transcriptions of early-modern texts will just have to 
do for now.

The following is the opening of John Bagford's "An Essay on the 
Invention of Printing," published in the _Philosophical Transactions_ 
for 1707. By this time, Bagford had amassed a huge collection of 
material for an intended history of printing and the printed book, and 
his _Philosophical Transactions_ essay, which advertised the content 
of his planned book, was one means of trolling for subscribers 
(unfortunately for Bagford, these angel capitalists never did 
materialize in sufficient numbers to sponsor his planned publication, 
which never made it into print).

Bagford's disorderly collection ended up at the British Library, and 
most of us today think of it as a collection of ballads. But as Tom 
Harper now reminds us

http://www.bl.uk/eblj/2010articles/article1.html
(an essay which also has a lot to do with information design!)

it is also a great deal more than this.

The Bagford Collection is an untapped treasure-trove of materials 
which I know will be of interest to some Café members, such as the 
volume known as Harl. 5949, which I believe contains much of Bagford's 
eclectic collection relating to early-modern calligraphy, described by 
Humfrey Wanley in 1707 as including:

	"Cuts of Figures in different Postures, as *Writing*,
	*Reading* and *Meditating*; with all the *Utensils* used in
	Writing, *&c.* during some Ages. Cuts of *Schools*. The
	*Heads* of some *Arithmeticians*; *Alphabets*; Specimens of
	*Knot work*, and some *Great Text* and other Letters.
	Specimens of *Letter Graving*. *Heads* of Writing Masters,
	*Dutch*, *French*, *English*. Specimens of Letters Engraven
	in *Small*; as also of *Short Hand*, &c. Heads of *Short Hand
	Writers*, and Specimens of their Works, and many other
	things."

FYI, Bagford collected items documenting not only the British print 
trade (England, Scotland, and Ireland), but also title-pages, 
printer's devices, and engravings from all over Europe (Portugal, 
Spain, Spanish Netherlands, "United Netherlands", Switzerland, France, 
Germany, Italy, Denmark, Bohemia, Poland). So there's much here of 
interest to investigate, most of it little known and undocumented.

Bagford's _Philosophical Transactions_ essay of 1707 was one of 
several at the time arguing about who "invented" printing: NOT 
Gutenberg, according to these early print antiquarians, whose 
arguments are less Eurocentric than one might think (for example, in 
1703, John Bullord described the "antient" Arabic practice of making 
and using "Cotton Paper" for writing, which he dates back to "the 
427th of the year *Hegira*, i.e. *A.D.* 1049," while noting that other 
Arabic MSS. he has seen "seem older" even than this).

Bagford opens his published essay of 1707 with an assessment of the 
role of the Chinese in the origins of European printing, later gives a 
fascinating summary description of itinerant printers who carried 
their print shops on their backs, and ends up with a suggestive mention of

	"Printing with Plates of Pewter, Brass, or Iron, either
	Graved or Eat with *Aqua fortis*"

... which is where it becomes my turn to get a bit cheeky! (I thought 
I might challenge Conrad to next try his hand at "taking off the 
Impressions ... by the Smoak of a Lamp ..."! ;-)

Of course, I can't read even Bagford's brief account of "Specimens of 
the Antient Printing" without encountering more difficulty with early 
print nomenclature.

This time it's the English word "list" -- apparently something used to 
make playing cards, which process Bagford believes is done "after the 
same manner as those for the Books [first] printed at *Harlem*."

I looked up "list" in the OED and encountered a rag-tag group of 
possibly relevant definitions:

	"The high-lisses, or lists, are a number of long threads,
	with platines, or plate-leads, at the bottom."

	"A border, hem, bordering strip."

	"The selvage, border, or edge of a cloth, usually of
	different material from the body of the cloth."

	"A strip of cloth or other fabric."

	"Formerly often: A strip of cloth used for filtering or for
	causing a liquid to drip. Obs."

	"A band or strip of any material; a line or band
	conspicuously marked on a surface. ? Obs."

	"One of the divisions of a head of hair, or a beard. [?
	Suggested by It. lista.]"

	"A stripe of colour. ? Obs. (Cf. F. liste.)"

	"A small square moulding or ring encircling the foot of a
	column, between the torus below and the shaft above. (Cf.
	LISTEL.)"

	"Carpentry. (? U.S.) ‘The upper rail of a railing’ (Knight
	Dict. Mech. 1875)."

	"Carpentry. A strip cut from the edge of a plank. (Cf. LIST
	v.3 3)."

	"Tin-plating. The wire of tin left on the under edge of a
	tinned plate, which is removed by plunging the plate into the
	list-pot."

	"An encircling palisade; a railed or staked enclosure."

	"Comb.: list-boy, in Tin-plating, a boy employed to place the
	plates in the list-pot."

	"Comb.: list-pot, a cast-iron trough containing a small
	quantity of melted tin, in which the tinned plates are
	plunged to remove the ‘list’ (see 7d)" = the entry for
	"tin-plating."

	"Comb.: list-wall [cf. sense 4], a dry wall with one or more
	strips or bands of cemented walling."

I'm hoping that "list" is still a familiar term to those working 
within the graphic arts today. If not, perhaps those of you with 
hands-on experience in the print shop can glean from Bagford's 
description (better than I) what he's talking about ???

To wit, here's what Bagford actually says:

	"The Antiquity of Printing, and the first Inventors, hath
	been treated of by many Authors: I shall now only give a
	short account of the Observations I have made in many Years
	from old Books of several sorts and kinds. The general notion
	of most Authors is, that we had the hint from the *Chineses*;
	but I am not in the least inclined to be of that Opinion, for
	at that time of day we had no knowledge of them. I think we
	might more probably take it from the Ancient *Romans*, their
	Medals, Seals, and the Marks or Names at the bottom of their
	Sacrificing Pots, which Antiquities we had amongst our selves
	in *Europe*, rather than fetch it so far. But if it be
	certain, that Cards are as old as our King *Henry* VI.
	nothing that I have seen or considered of, seems to give so
	fair an hint for Printing, as the making of Cards; as it is
	evident by the first Specimen of Printing at *Harlem*, and by
	some Books in the *Bodleian Library* at *Oxford*, one in
	*Junius*'s Collection, another in Archbishop *Laud*'s, and a
	third in the same, being the Lives of the *Rushian* Saints in
	a thin Folio; the Leaves are not pasted together as the
	former two, but cut on Wooden Blocks, and illuminated. There
	is also another rare Specimen of the first in that valuable
	Collection of Archbishop *Parker*, in *Bennet* College
	Library at *Cambridge*, bound up with a *MS.* Book; this was
	shown me at first by Mr. *Bullord*, and differs very much
	from them at *Oxford*; it is the *Life of Christ* in Figures,
	or rather the Types of the Old and New Testament. They have
	not so many Specimens of the first Printing at *Harlem*, as
	we have in *England*; and if I can obtain the favour of
	either University, I will give you a Specimen of two or
	three, as exact as they are printed. I am apt to believe,
	that if some curious Persons had the Liberty of looking over
	the Libraries in both Universities [Oxford and Cambridge],
	and that in *Gresham* College, their might be found other
	Specimens of the Antient Printing; the aforementioned Books
	being taken notice of but of late.

	"The Cutting of the Molds or Blocks for making our Playing
	Cards, is after the same manner as those for the Books
	printed at *Harlem*. They lay a Sheet of moist or wet Paper
	on the Form or Block, being first lightly brush'd over with
	Ink, made of Lamp black mix'd with Starch and Water: Then
	they rub it off with a round List with their hand, which is
	done with great Expedition; this is for Picture or Court
	Cards: Then they paste them together threefold, the coursest
	in the middle. They colour them by the help of several
	*Patterns*, or *Stanesiles*, as they call them; they are Card
	Paper cut thro' with a Penknife, for every Colour, as Red,
	*&c.* (for at the first Printing, the Card has only a meer
	Out-Line:) These Patterns are Painted with Oyl-Colours, to
	keep them from wearing out with the Brushes, they lay it upon
	the Picture, and by sliding a Brush that is full and loose
	gently over the Pattern, it fixes the Colour into the cut
	Holes, and leaves it on the Print that is to be a Card, and
	so go through all the Colours you see on Cards; but this
	cannot be so well understood by a Description, as by seeing
	them perform it. This I humbly conceive to be their way of
	Printing first at *Harlem*, and those Books abovementioned.
	This methinks might have been considered before this time of
	Day, if they would have put themselves to the trouble of
	inspecting the old MSS. 900 Years old; for the Great Letters
	are done by the Illuminators the same way as Card-making; as
	I shall treat of more at large in another Dissertation.

	"The next Form of Printing at *Harlem*, was by cutting whole
	Forms in Wood from *MSS.* exactly written, and without
	Pictures: Such I take the *Donatus* to be, mentioned in
	Histories; and this might bear Date in 1450, some say 1440.
	This may be as plainly demonstrated, as the former, from
	Copy-Books which we have seen Printed at *Rome*, *Venice*,
	*Switzerland* and England, as high as 1500; and, if I mistake
	not, there is a Block cut in Box in the Collection of your
	*Musaeum* in *Gresham-College*. This writing is harder to
	perform than either the *Roman*, *Italick*, or any other
	Letters used in Printed Books.

	"The third way of Printing was with single Types made of
	Wood, but to whom the Honour of the Invention is due, is not
	very evident; it was then esteemed so great a Rarity that the
	Printers carry'd their Letters in Bags at their Backs, and
	got Money at Great Mens Houses by Printing the Names of the
	Family, Epitaphs, Songs, and other small Pamphlets.

	"The fourth Improvement of this Noble Art was the Invention
	of single Types made of Metal. Here we must intirely give the
	Honour to the never to be forgotten *Peter Scheffer* of
	*Grenschen*, Servant and afterwards Son-in-Law to *Faust*,
	who entertain'd him to Work in his House at *Mentz*. He
	observing how industrious his Master was every Day to improve
	this Art, undertook it himself; and with much Study and
	Industry, brought it to Perfection. After he had made several
	Essays, at last he shews it to his Master *Faust*, who having
	tried some Experiments with his new invented single Types,
	finding that it would answer his Expectation, was so
	transported with Joy, that for his Reward, he promis'd he
	should Marry his Daughter, a very Beautiful Damsel, whose
	Name was *Christian*, which sometime after he performed, and
	continu'd together improving this Art with great Secresy,
	till it became known, and spread it self over all *Europe*.
	Sometimes you have their Names to the Books they Printed at
	the end, and sometimes not; sometimes with Dates as high as
	the Year 1457, as the Psalms Printed by them, now in the
	Emperor's Library, which *Lambecius* mentions in his
	*Bibliotheca*, and as low as the Year 1490; and for this we
	have the Authority of *Erasmus*, in a Preface to *Livy*,
	Printed at *Basil* by *Froben*, in 15__.

	"As for *John Guttenburgh*, tho' by abundance of Authors he
	is said to be the first inventor of Printing, we cannot find
	one Book with his Name and Printing; but this requires a
	longer Consideration, which in its due place I shall take
	notice of.

	"We may rationally conjecture, that Printing with Plates of
	Pewter, Brass, or Iron, either Graved or Eat with *Aqua
	fortis*, was first practis'd by the Working Goldsmiths; for
	they have a way of taking off the Impressions of their Work,
	by the Smoak of a Lamp, which, perhaps, gave the Hint to the
	Graving on Brass. We have a dark Story of it in some Authors,
	but I shall inlarge upon this Subject.

	"Having treated of Printing to satisfie the Curious, I shall
	say something of the several Advances and Improvements it
	hath received.

	"The *Harlem* Printing at first was a Book with Pictures;
	they took off the Impression with a List coiled up, as the
	Card-makers use the same to this day.

	"But when they came to use single Types, they made use of
	stronger Paper, with Vellum and Parchment: Then they made use
	of a Press, altho' they afterwards contrived and made it more
	useful, as I shall treat of in another place.

	"Neither was their Ink for Printing brought to Perfection at
	the first, but improved by degrees.

	"Rowling-press Printing was not used in *England* till King
	*James the First*, and then brought from *Antwerp* by our
	Industrious *John Speed*.

	"I shall also discourse at large of the Invention of making
	Paper in *Europe* from all the best Authors, with large
	Observations of my own; the time when it began in several
	Places, more especially in *England*; and I intend to exhibit
	a Specimen of the Marks of the old Paper, which has not yet
	been attempted by any.

	"Bookbinding shall be handled in all its Parts, its several
	Ages and Times: Also the Form, Size and Volume, Folding,
	Sewing, Headbanding, several sorts of Boards for Covers,
	Clasping, Bossing, *&c.* Also in all Countries, as *China*,
	*Persia*, *Turkey*, *Greece*, Ancient and Modern *Germany*,
	*Italy*, *France*, *Holland* and *Spain*; but more
	particularly *England*.

	"The Devices, *Rebus*'s, and Signs of the Ancient Printers
	will take up a whole Chapter, where their Descent and
	Genealogies shall be shewn, and how the succeeded one another
	in their Office, or Printing House. On this Subject I have no
	Path to follow; but *Draudeus* hath a Tract I find mentioned,
	that treats of the ancient Devices of the Printers, but after
	my Inquiry, I could never see it, and so can receive no
	assistance from it. Also *Naudeus*'s Life of *Lewis the
	Eleventh* hath an Account of *Faust*'s Printing the Bible in
	the *Latin* Tongue, his bringing them to *Paris*, and vending
	them there for *MSS.* his Troubles and Accusations before the
	Parliament, being tried for a Conjurer, which I conceive gave
	occasion for that foolish Book, that goes under the Name of
	Dr *Faustus*'s Life. This is not my own thought, but the
	Sentiments of others, for we have another Example of the like
	nature for our famous *Roger Bacon*, tho' some Centuries of
	Years before, who had the like Fate. ..."

	[end of introductory section to Bagford's article published
	in 1707; from here, Bagford moves on to discussion of a
	recent research trip, "my second Voyage to *Holland*, to
	satisfie my Curiosity and remove some Scruples about the Book
	at *Harlem* and the Statue of *Coster*"]

This article of Bagford's was one of Chambers's primary sources for 
the articles on printing in his _Cyclopaedia_ (1st edn., 1728), where 
he flushes out the "dark" story about smoke-induced prints as follows:

	"*Origin and Progress of Rolling-Press*-PRINTING.

	"This Art is said to be as antient as the Year 1460; and to
	owe its Origin to *Finiguerra*, a *Florentine* Goldsmith, who
	casting a piece of engraven Plate in melted Brimstone, found
	the exact Print of the Engraving left in the cold Brimstone,
	mark'd with Black licked out of the Strokes by the liquid
	Sulphur.

	"Upon this he attempted to do the same on silver Plates with
	wet Paper, by rolling it smoothly with a Roller; and this
	Succeeded.

	"This Novelty tempted *Baccio Baldini*, a Goldsmith of the
	same City, to attempt the same; which he did with Success;
	ingraving several Plates of *Sandro Boticello*'s Design, and
	printing them off this new way: in which he was follow'd by
	*Andrew Mantegna*, then at *Rome*.

	"This knowledge getting into *Flanders*, *Martin* of Antwerp,
	a famous Painter, graved abundance of Plates of his own
	Invention, and sent several Prints into *Italy*, marked thus,
	*M. C.*

	"After him *Albert Durer* appear'd, and gave the World a vast
	number of Prints, both in Wood and Copper.

	"About this time one *Hugo de Carpi*, an *Italian* Painter,
	found out a way, by means of several Plates of Wood, to make
	Prints resemble Designs of *Claro Obscuro*; and some Years
	after, the Invention of Etching was discover'd, which was
	soon made use of by *Parmeggiano*.

	"The Art was not used in England till the Time of King
	*James* I. when it was brought from *Antwerp* by *Speed*."


Deborah
_____

Deborah Taylor-Pearce
[email protected]








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