Turning from Milan to Florence, we are struck with the eagerness with which the cities of Italy availed themselves of the advantages afforded by the Teutonic invention of Printing. In proof of this, it may suffice to mention The first Homer, printed at Florence in 1488. A fine sound folio tome, measuring 13 inches by 9, and bound in red morocco, having a portrait of Homer prefixed thereto. The Callimachus, printed in capital letters at Florence, quarto, being the rarest of the fine works so executed at the close of the fifteenth century. The present copy is a very desirable one, measuring 8 inches by 5, and bound in green morocco. Of the remaining four, the Euripides claims precedence, for its rarity as well as beauty; the present copy is a very fine one, measuring 8 by 6. The Gnomæ and Musæus measure 74 by 5 inches, and the Anthologia 84 by 6 in. The Apollonius Rhodius is of the dimensions of 8 by 6. All these four volumes are bound uniformly with the Callimachus, in green morocco. From Florence we have also the first edition of Orpheus, printed by Philip Junta, in 1500, quarto, a copy measuring 8 by 64, and bound in calf; and the Lucian, usually attributed to the same printer, of which the present copy measures 134 by 84, and bound in old blue morocco, of Gallic aspect. To these may be added the Xenophon, and Plutarch, from the same press; together with the first edition of Celsus, edited by Fontius, bearing the date of 1478, in folio. The present copy being very fine, measuring 10 by 84, and bound in red morocco. Reverting to Germany, we have The Comedies of Terence, printed by Mentelin, at Strasburg, measuring 114 by 8, and bound in purple-stained morocco, of great rarity. The Epistles inscribed to Seneca, distinguished by the singular form of the letter R, and correctly attributed to the same press; the present copy measures 11 by 8 inches, and is arrayed in blue morocco. To Mentelin also, we are indebted for the first edition of Valerius Maximus, of which the present copy is very fine, measuring 12§ by 81, and bound in green morocco, apparently of French manufacture. To the above I may add the dateless and nameless edition of Horace, executed with the same types as the Apophthegms of Plutarch, also in quarto. A book usually considered as the first edition of the Roman Lyrist, and of extreme rarity. The present copy is in a very tender condition, having been washed throughout. It is unfortunately defective in the first and last leaves of the Ars Poetica, a defect which has caused the binder to place that piece in the middle of the epodes. In other respects, however, the pieces are rightly placed, the Carmina concluding with the Colophonic verses: "Hoc quicunque dedit Venusini carmen Horatii ; Et studio formis correctum effinxit in istis Omnia. ceu nunquam numeris abolebitur auctor." occupying the last place. This volume, of which the last leaf has been pieced, measures 8 by 6 inches, and is bound in old calf. The Bolognese edition of Valerius Flaccus, a copy of 114 by 7%, and bound in red morocco; and the first edition of Dante, printed by Numeister in 1472, folio, a very fine genuine copy, measuring 104 by 7 inches, and bound in red morocco. I now approach a theme of high interest to every Englishman, being the records of the progress of the art of Printing in England, under the auspices of its founder William Caxton. But I must first briefly notice those productions of his press which are reasonably supposed to have preceded his typographical advent into these realms, beginning with The Recueil of the Histories of Troye, probably executed in 1471, at Cologne. The present copy being bound in russia, and measuring 103 by 74 inches, was purchased at West's sale for 327. 11s. by "honest Thomas Payne," who afterwards had the good fortune of supplying its deficiencies from another copy.— Perfect copies, indeed, of this, the first book printed in the English language, are of the greatest degree of rarity. The Game or Playe of Chesse, folio, ffynishide the last day of Marche, 1474. The present copy measures 9 by 7 inches, and is bound in red morocco. We come now to the second edition of the same work, being in all probability the first book printed within the realm of England, unless the following article be deemed more fairly entitled to that distinction. The present copy of this rare book has several leaves pieced, the sixth inlaid, and the last pasted on. It measured 10 by 74, and is bound in purple-stained morocco. The Book of the hoole Lyf of Jason, by Raoul le Fevre, translated out of the Frenshe, folio, William Caxton, without date or place, but probably executed about the year 1475. Of the present copy of this extremely rare book, the first leaf has been inlaid, and the second repaired, but its condition is throughout most desirable. It is ruled with red lines, and measures 103 by 7%, being bound in red morocco. Chaucer. The Boke of the Tales of Canterburye, with the Prayer or retraction for the Parson's Tale, folio. The first edition. The present copy, which is quite a treasure in its way, measures 10 by 7, and contains a portrait of the father of English song, illuminated by Occleve his contemporary, upon vellum; a copy of a grant to Chaucer, in 1399, published by Rawlinson in 1752; and two Letters from Mr. Abr. Jos. Rudd to Mr. Ames, dated St. John's Coll. Oxon. 1746, and relating to the early editions of the poet. This volume is bound in old russia gilt, and appears, from the following MS. note, to have belonged to Mr. West: "It is the first edition of Chaucer, printed by Caxton,-is the only perfect one known in England. The Earls of Pembroke and Oxford told me, after the utmost inquiry they never could see one. Some fragments are in the hands of Sir Peter Thompson, lately Mr. Ames, Mr. Ratcliff, and St. John's College, but united will not make a perfect copy. J. WEST." It was in fact purchased for the King at his sale in 1773, for the sum of 471. 158. 6d. Chaucer's Troylus and Cresseyde, folio. "Explicit per Caxton." Fine and perfect copy, in red morocco, measuring 103 and 73. The Book of Fame, made by Gefferey Chaucer. Imprynted by William Caxton. A fine copy, measuring 103 by 7. In red morocco. Liber Festivalis, folio, imprynted by William Caxton at Westminster. The first leaf has been mended, and the last inlaid, otherwise a fine copy, measuring 11 by 7%, in red morocco. Lydgate's Life of our Ladye, 'imprynted by Wyllyam Caxton,' folio. A large copy, in blue morocco, measuring 104 by 73. Speculum Vite Christi; folio, Caxton; measuring 101 by 7, in red morocco. The Chastysing of Goddes Chyldren, folio, Caxton. Perfect. It measures 10 by 73, in red morocco. The Lyf of Saynt Wenefryde. William Caxton. With the Mass in Latin at the end, folio, measuring 104 by 74, in red morocco. "Tullius de Senectute." 66 Explicit per Caxton," folio. A very sound copy, measuring 8 by 73, in red morocco. Directorium Sacerdotum, folio. "Caxton me fieri fecit." The only book printed by Caxton in the Latin tongue. This copy wants the title, which has been supplied by Whitaker. It measures 104 by 7%, and is bound in russia. Statuta apud Westmonasterium edita anno primo Regis Ricardi tercii. Folio. Caxton, no date, 15 leaves, measuring 103 by 7%, quite perfect, in old red morocco. Boecius de Consolacione Philosophie, ending with the Epitaphium Galfridi Chaucer. A very fine copy, measuring 114 by 8 inches, in red morocco. The Dictes and Sayinges of Philosophers. Translated by Antony Earl Rivers. Folio. Westmestre, Nov. 18, 1477. This is a sound copy, measuring 104 by 7 inches; and, though slightly stained, is a very desirable book. It is attired, like its brethren, in red morocco, and is quite perfect. Thymage or Mirrour of the World, adorned with very rude and singular wood-cuts, folio, Caxton, 8th of March, 1480. It measures 101 by 71, and is bound in red morocco. The well-known mark of Caxton is pasted on a blank leaf at the end; but the condition of this volume is otherwise very desirable. The Chronicles of England, from Albyne to Edward IV. folio, William Caxton, in thabbey of Westminster, 1480. This copy unfortunately wants the title, and the signatures A, B, and begins with c; and at the end wants all the leaves from x 6. It also wants c 4, G 8, м 7, very badly supplied in MS. It measures 9 by 74, in red morocco. The Description of Britayne. Fynysshed by me William Caxton, the xviii day of August, 1480. Folio. It measures 84 by 7, and is bound in old russia. Many leaves are pieced; the 8th leaf is supplied by MS. in this copy. The Historye of reynart the foxe, translated into this rude and simple english, in thabbay of Westmestre, fynished the vi daye of Juyn. 1481, folio. A very fine copy, measuring 11 by 8 inches. It has been rebound in red mo rocco. The book entitled The last Siege and Conquest of Jherusalem. Westmestre, 7th June, 1481, folio, measuring 11 by 7%. Very sound and fine, in red morocco. Higdeni Polychronicon, translated by Trevisa, and continued by Caxton, folio, Westmestre, 1482. It measures 104 by 74, and is bound in russia. Gower. Confessio Amantis. Emprynted at Westmestre by me William Caxton, September 1493 (1483), folio. In this copy the penultimate leaf of the Prologue, and cevii to the end, and the six leaves of the table, are supplied by Whitaker. It measures 11 by 84, and is bound in old russia. The Golden Legend of 1483, folio, unfortunately wants the title, and has had its four first leaves mended. It measures 13 by 94, and is bound in red morocco. The Book called Cathon. Wm. Caxton in thabbey of Westmestre, 1483, folio. A very indifferent copy, much stained, and disfigured by writing, but measuring 10 inches by 74, and bound in red morocco. The Knight of the Toure. Westmestre, first of Juyn, 1484, folio. A large copy, with the leaves mended in many places, of the dimensions of 11 by 8 inches, in red morocco; in the smaller type of Caxton. It appears to have suffered from damp at some remote time. The Booke of Chyvalrye or Knyghthoode, presented to Kyng Richard III. Quarto, without date or name; but in the smaller type of Caxton. Of this little tome, the first leaf has been inlaid, and the last rebacked, but it is quite sound, and measures 7 by 54, in red morocco. It was probably executed in 1484. Hystory and Lyf of the xviii Juyn, 1485, folio. fine, measuring 104 by 74. morocco. " most noble and Crysten Prince Charles the Grete, Explicit per Caxton." This copy is large and It has a gratuitous MS. title, and is bound in red The Ryal Book. Caxton, xiii Septembre, 1484, folio. A cropt copy, not exactly "the book for a King," though bound in red morocco. It measures only 9 by 67. Thystorye of the noble Knyght Parys, and the fair Vyene. Westmestre, 19 Decembre, 1485, folio. Explicit per Caxton." The copy under notice has a gratuitous title MS. Measures 10 by 7%, and is bound in red morocco. The Booke of fayttes of armes and of Chyvalry. Per Caxton, viiii July, 1489, folio. An imperfect copy, wanting the first leaf of the table; and measuring 10 by 74; in red morocco. A lityl Treatise of the Arte and Crafte to knowe well to dye, xv Juyn, 1490, folio; with a gratuitous MS. title. A very tall copy, measuring 11 by 74, in red morocco. The Boke of Eneydos, compyled by Vyrgyle, and out of the frenche reduced into Englyshe by me William Caxton, the xxvi daye of Juyn, 1490, folio. This is not in what Dr. Dibdin would call comfortable condition. It measures 91 by 64; but it is happily perfect. It is similarly attired in red morocco. The Curial of Maystre Alain Charretier. Folio. William Caxton. No date. In his smaller type. A fine and perfect copy, apparently taken out of some old volume, as the MS. numerals run from 76 to 82. The tract itself consisting of only six leaves, measuring 104 by 74, in red morocco. The Lyf of Saint Katherin of Senes. Folio. William Caxton. No date. This curious piece of biography was reprinted by Caxton's typographical pupil Wynkyn de Worde. This copy has part of the first leaf, and the whole of the last, admirably supplied in fac-simile "by J. Harris for Mr. Whitaker." It is an unclean as well as imperfect copy, measuring 104 by 71, and bound in red morocco. With the Vitae Patrum, which Caxton lived to translate, but the printing of which was executed by his successor Wynkyn de Worde, I may close my account of his multifarious productions. Contemporary with the Father of the English Press, we find the Rhetorica Nova Fratris Gulielmi de Saona, quarto, St. Alban's, 1481, measuring 84 by 54, and bound in calf. Exempla sacre Scripture ex utroque testamento. Impr. ap. villam Sancti Albani, 1481, octavo. The Cronicles of Englonde, with the Frute of Timis, folio. Printed at St. Alban's in 1483, folio, a copy of which the last leaf, and sig. T. 1, are copied from that in the library of Earl Spencer. The present volume measures 10 inches by 7, and is bound in russia. The productions of subsequent Presses exceed the limits of this paper. If in this brief notice I have dwelt chiefly upon the earlier efforts of the Press contained in this collection, it is because their importance is too often underrated. Though not unacquainted with so much of its early history as concerns the rise and progress of the art of Printing in Germany and Italy, in England, France, and Spain, few persons are aware that it had long been known and practised in the northern regions of Europe, and in the sequestered valleys of Switzerland. "As for China," says the Rev. Henry Cotton, "I had little dreamed that the European mode of Printing was in use there more than two centuries ago, that it had been practised in more than one of the islands of Japan, in the Philippines, the Azores, in Ceylon, in the Balearic Islands, in Armenia, in Macedonia, on Mount Libanus, in Iceland, and in Otaheite; that it was known both in the northern and southern parts of Africa, both at Cairo, and at the Cape of Good Hope; that it had visited the New World at a very early period after its discovery; that it was used at Mexico before it was received into Ireland, in Peru, in the West India islands, in the British settlements of North America; and finally, that it has transported itself to the shores of the newly-discovered Continent, and bids fair to take root and flourish both at Sydney and in Van Diemen's Land."* The influence, moreover, which Printing is likely to have upon the future history of the world, has not been examined with the attention which the importance of the subject deserves. One reason for this may probably have been, that as the invention has never been made but once, it has been considered rather as the effect of a fortunate accident, than as the result of those general causes on which the progress of society seems to depend. But whoever contemplates the mode adopted by Divine Providence for leading back the minds of men to purer and nobler sentiments, and preparing them to achieve the great work of the Reformation, must ascribe equal efficacy to the diffusive power of the Press, and to the un * See his excellent Typographical Gazetteer, Introduction. daunted energies of Luther. What remains for this unrivalled invention to effect, it is beyond the reach of human sagacity to conjecture; "but in general we may venture to predict with confidence, that in every country it will operate to widen the circle of science and civilization; to distribute more equally among all members of the community, the advantages of the political union; and to enlarge the basis of equitable governments, by increasing the number of those who understand their value, and are interested to defend them." Such are the cheering anticipations indulged in by that profound philosopher, Dugald Stewart, in his admirable "Elements of the Philosophy of the Human Mind," where he particularly dwells on the benefits of the art of Printing; and, after considering its efficacy in preventing any relapse into barbarism, or recurrence of the dark ages, adds the following emphatic remarks: "The art of printing, therefore, is entitled to be considered as a step in the natural history of man, no less than the art of writing; and they who are sceptical about the future progress of the race, merely in consequence of its past history, reason as unphilosophically as a member of a savage tribe, who deriving his own acquaintance with former times from oral tradition only, should affect to call in question the efficacy of written records in accelerating the progress of knowledge and civilization.”* It were as easy to expand these remarks, as it is delightful to dwell upon the theme which called them forth, but I hesitate any longer to occupy attention which may be more profitably bestowed. Typography, however, in its nature and origin, and still more in its stupendous results, as yet imperfectly developed, is a legitimate subject of curiosity and attention. It may also be esteemed as, under the blessing of Providence, and the proverbial mutability of human events, the surest guarantee for the permanency of MODERN CIVILIZATION. Jan. 22. B. B. DIARY OF A LOVER OF LITERATURE. BY THOMAS GREEN, ESQ. (Continued from p. 144.) 1802. June 3. Attended Mara's concert at the Opera House. The great object of curiosity the contention between Billington and Mara; the latter opened with "Pious Orgies," feeble, lisping from want of teeth, and exhibiting apparently a frightful decay of powers. She then sang, "Farewell, ye limpid Springs," far better, and with all that pathetic tenderness of expression that graced her better days. Billington, who had been singing in Artaxerxes, then opened the second act, apparently quite fresh, and exhibiting the whole extent of her astonishing powers with the most triumphant success, the house echoing with thunders of applause. On her retiring, Mara came forward; and, as if agitated by the Furies, burst forth in a most difficult Italian aria, " Agitata dall' affanno," with a vehemence of expression and infuriated vigour of stupendous execution quite unparalleled and overpowering; extorting peals of applause, nodding to her friends, in the exultation of confidence, while going through it. The whole closed with her leading in Billington, each smiling on the other, as thus brought together on the arena, as executing an Italian duet, Vol. I. chap. iv. sect. viii. |