LJ001-0001|Printing, in the only sense with which we are at present concerned, differs from most if not from all the arts and crafts represented in the Exhibition|Printing, in the only sense with which we are at present concerned, differs from most if not from all the arts and crafts represented in the Exhibition
LJ001-0002|in being comparatively modern.|in being comparatively modern.
LJ001-0003|For although the Chinese took impressions from wood blocks engraved in relief for centuries before the woodcutters of the Netherlands, by a similar process|For although the Chinese took impressions from wood blocks engraved in relief for centuries before the woodcutters of the Netherlands, by a similar process
LJ001-0004|produced the block books, which were the immediate predecessors of the true printed book,|produced the block books, which were the immediate predecessors of the true printed book,
LJ001-0005|the invention of movable metal letters in the middle of the fifteenth century may justly be considered as the invention of the art of printing.|the invention of movable metal letters in the middle of the fifteenth century may justly be considered as the invention of the art of printing.
LJ001-0006|And it is worth mention in passing that, as an example of fine typography,|And it is worth mention in passing that, as an example of fine typography,
LJ001-0007|the earliest book printed with movable types, the Gutenberg, or "forty-two line Bible" of about 1455,|the earliest book printed with movable types, the Gutenberg, or "forty-two line Bible" of about fourteen fifty-five,
LJ001-0008|has never been surpassed.|has never been surpassed.
LJ001-0009|Printing, then, for our purpose, may be considered as the art of making books by means of movable types.|Printing, then, for our purpose, may be considered as the art of making books by means of movable types.
LJ001-0010|Now, as all books not primarily intended as picture-books consist principally of types composed to form letterpress,|Now, as all books not primarily intended as picture-books consist principally of types composed to form letterpress,
LJ001-0011|it is of the first importance that the letter used should be fine in form;|it is of the first importance that the letter used should be fine in form;
LJ001-0012|especially as no more time is occupied, or cost incurred, in casting, setting, or printing beautiful letters|especially as no more time is occupied, or cost incurred, in casting, setting, or printing beautiful letters
LJ001-0013|than in the same operations with ugly ones.|than in the same operations with ugly ones.
LJ001-0014|And it was a matter of course that in the Middle Ages, when the craftsmen took care that beautiful form should always be a part of their productions whatever they were,|And it was a matter of course that in the Middle Ages, when the craftsmen took care that beautiful form should always be a part of their productions whatever they were,
LJ001-0015|the forms of printed letters should be beautiful, and that their arrangement on the page should be reasonable and a help to the shapeliness of the letters themselves.|the forms of printed letters should be beautiful, and that their arrangement on the page should be reasonable and a help to the shapeliness of the letters themselves.
LJ001-0016|The Middle Ages brought calligraphy to perfection, and it was natural therefore|The Middle Ages brought calligraphy to perfection, and it was natural therefore
LJ001-0017|that the forms of printed letters should follow more or less closely those of the written character, and they followed them very closely.|that the forms of printed letters should follow more or less closely those of the written character, and they followed them very closely.
LJ001-0018|The first books were printed in black letter, i.e. the letter which was a Gothic development of the ancient Roman character,|The first books were printed in black letter, i.e. the letter which was a Gothic development of the ancient Roman character,
LJ001-0019|and which developed more completely and satisfactorily on the side of the "lower-case" than the capital letters;|and which developed more completely and satisfactorily on the side of the "lower-case" than the capital letters;
LJ001-0020|the "lower-case" being in fact invented in the early Middle Ages.|the "lower-case" being in fact invented in the early Middle Ages.
LJ001-0021|The earliest book printed with movable type, the aforesaid Gutenberg Bible, is printed in letters which are an exact imitation|The earliest book printed with movable type, the aforesaid Gutenberg Bible, is printed in letters which are an exact imitation
LJ001-0022|of the more formal ecclesiastical writing which obtained at that time; this has since been called "missal type,"|of the more formal ecclesiastical writing which obtained at that time; this has since been called "missal type,"
LJ001-0023|and was in fact the kind of letter used in the many splendid missals, psalters, etc., produced by printing in the fifteenth century.|and was in fact the kind of letter used in the many splendid missals, psalters, etc., produced by printing in the fifteenth century.
LJ001-0024|But the first Bible actually dated (which also was printed at Maintz by Peter Schoeffer in the year 1462)|But the first Bible actually dated (which also was printed at Maintz by Peter Schoeffer in the year fourteen sixty-two)
LJ001-0025|imitates a much freer hand, simpler, rounder, and less spiky, and therefore far pleasanter and easier to read.|imitates a much freer hand, simpler, rounder, and less spiky, and therefore far pleasanter and easier to read.
LJ001-0026|On the whole the type of this book may be considered the ne-plus-ultra of Gothic type,|On the whole the type of this book may be considered the ne-plus-ultra of Gothic type,
LJ001-0027|especially as regards the lower-case letters; and type very similar was used during the next fifteen or twenty years not only by Schoeffer,|especially as regards the lower-case letters; and type very similar was used during the next fifteen or twenty years not only by Schoeffer,
LJ001-0028|but by printers in Strasburg, Basle, Paris, Lubeck, and other cities.|but by printers in Strasburg, Basle, Paris, Lubeck, and other cities.
LJ001-0029|But though on the whole, except in Italy, Gothic letter was most often used|But though on the whole, except in Italy, Gothic letter was most often used
LJ001-0030|a very few years saw the birth of Roman character not only in Italy, but in Germany and France.|a very few years saw the birth of Roman character not only in Italy, but in Germany and France.
LJ001-0031|In 1465 Sweynheim and Pannartz began printing in the monastery of Subiaco near Rome,|In fourteen sixty-five Sweynheim and Pannartz began printing in the monastery of Subiaco near Rome,
LJ001-0032|and used an exceedingly beautiful type, which is indeed to look at a transition between Gothic and Roman,|and used an exceedingly beautiful type, which is indeed to look at a transition between Gothic and Roman,