Gutenberg, and the art of printing

Front matter

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II

Gutenberg in Exile. — His Trade as Lapidary. — Curious Law. — Ancient Cuts. — A Picture of a Saint. — Legend. - — The Bible for the Poor. — A Secret discovered. — Gutenberg's Experiment 14

III

Ancient Books and their Materials. — Sculptures. — Printing in China. — Use of Metals. — Seal. — Stencils. — Waxen Tablets. — Bark, Leaves, Shells. — Papyrus. — Parchments.

— Paper. — Palimpsests. — Books written by Hand. — The Scriptorium. — Copyists and their Habits. — Illuminations.

— Character of Ancient Books. — Scarcity and Costliness of Books. — Bichard de Bury and Library. — Statutes of St. Mary's College. — Books chained. — Abundance of Books in Modern Times 29

IV

An Important Step. — Engraving a Name. — Engraving Pictures. — Superstitions. — Difficulties overcome. — An Improvement. — Experiment and Progress. — A New Book.

— Cheerful Thoughts 45

CONTENTS.

Pecuniary Troubles. — An Expedient. — Disappointment. — The Jewels. — A Sale. — Apprentices. — Visit to the Cathedral. — A New Enterprise 52

VI. Unwelcome Visitors. — Unjust Demand. — A Compromise

— Secret Firm. — A Removal. — Teaching the Workmen.

— Block Printing. — Success 61

VII

Small Receipts. — Printing the "Donatus." — "Ars Memoranda" — " Ars Moriendi." — An Interesting Fact. — Extract from " Ars Moriendi " 71

VIII

Effect of Gutenberg's Books. — His Times and Ours. — His Books at the Cathedral. — Curiosity of the Monks. — Proposition of the Abbot. — The " Bible for the Poor/' — A Great Work well done. — A Good Sale. — The Canticles issued. — A Difficult Undertaking. — Discontent. — An Accident. — Discovery of Separate Types. — The Firs t Fon t _pf M ovable Type. — Difficulties mastered. — The Great Helper 75

IX

Anna's Disappointment. — Dritzhn's Regrets. — Comfort for Anna. — Gutenberg's Progress described. — The Great Enlightener. — Advantages of Movable Type. — Another Book. — Obstacles. — Criticisms. — Invention. — A Press contrived. — New Cause of Disquiet 92

X

A Partner at tin* Confessional. — His Death. — Consequences.

— A Lawsuit. — Thieves. — Dangerous Curiosity. — Dc-

CONTENTS. 3

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struction of Gutenberg's Type. — Curious Testimonies. — Value of the Legal Document. — Proof that Gutenberg was the Real Inventor. — The Magistrate's Just Judgment.

— Public Excitement . . . . . .107

XL

Benighted. — Minstrel of the Hearth. — The Black Art. — A Barefoot Friar. — Popular Prejudice. — Hopes and Pears.

— Gutenberg returns to his Trade. — Dissolution of the Copartnership , . „ 118

XII

Congenial Quiet — Making Type again. — Gutenberg issues " Absies." — Peter Schoeffer. — Decides to remove to Mentz. y

— Emotions of Gutenberg. — Eraternal Sympathy. — The Meeting with Faust — Gutenberg reveals his Art — A Rich Partner 127

xni.

The Zum Jungen. — The Old Valet, — A Happy Change.

— Going over the Process anew. — Good Progress. — Peter Schoeffer 140

XIV

Working of the Press. — The Medallion. — An Acquisition.

— Experiments. — A Failure. — Schoeffer's Invention. — Discovery of Cast Metal Type 148

XV

Schoeffer admitted to the Firm. — A Grand Project. — How a Bible was borrowed. — The Early Press. — Processes in Book-making. — Ingenuity of Peter Schoeffer. — Industry of the Firm. — Ink. — Cast Type. — Three Ingenious Men.

— Letter-founding. — Faust compliments Peter. — The first Printed Pa^e of the Bible. — A Memorable Year . 155

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XVI. PAGE

Faust's Discontent. — Conspiracy against Gutenberg. — A Secret kept. — The Lawsuit. — Gutenberg supplanted. — A New Firm. — Gutenberg's Sorrow 168

XVII

The Story of Faust's Visit to Paris. — Was it Witchcraft ? — Popular Excitement. — Scene in a Court Room. — Issue of the Psalter 182

XVIII

New Friends. — The Nun. — Gutenberg at Work again. — Printing of the "Balbus de Janua." — Other Works. — A Curious Record. — Death of the Great Inventor. — Fadeless Laurels 192

XIX

Faust a^d SchoefFer's Success. — More Books issued. — An Eventful Year. — Greek Type. — Struck by the Plague. — The Parisians and Faust's Descendants. — Schoeffer's Death. — Testimony to Gutenberg. — Extension of the Art. — Piety and Chess. — Education in the Olden Time. —Unveiling the Statue 206

Stereotyping. — Plaster Moulds. — Planing and Beveling.

— Correcting Stereotype Plates. — Process of Electrotyping. — The " Guillotine." — Ornamenting . . . 247

XXIV. The Hand-press. — Earl Stanhope's Press. — Improvements

— Cylinder Presses. — Press-room — Drying Room. — Sewing Room. — Elevator. — Books for the Blind. — Type, Press, and Paper invented. — Catalogue of Great Exhibition. — Estimate of Rapid Labor by Machinery . 263