Burlington free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1827-1865, 1847-03-26
extract Of the i'm

print of the first printer in England. The small
type s .brevier size. which shows that books
were sometimes written very small. The large
will tolerably we'll represent the capital letters
which were supplied by the illumination the
space it occupies was left blank by the writer.
These illuminated letters were made in every
variety of form, and with all the ornaments that
the fancy and skill of the illuminator could sug-
gest and execute. Different colored inks and
gold and silver leaf were used Mr.. Thomas
says "The principal colors used in the illumina-
ton Of such works, as have seen. were red and
blue and in books, made three or four hundred
years ago, they appear as fresh as ifjust laid on;
and although some of the manuscripts have been,
in part. decayed, by having been frequently wet.
and by other accidents, yet the ink with which
the letters were made. and the coors of the illu-
limitations. remain fresh and unaltered.
AT first. printed books were in like manner
supplied, by the iluminator with capital letters
printers like the copyists, leaving space for TIL;
purpose There is now in the College library
an old printed book thus illuminated, the only one
have ever seen.
he printer Of this book left a large
space, like that in the margin, toi
tine Illuminated letter, in the cen
tire of which, TO prevent mistake
lie put small letter for Il guido
IN. or surrounded by the il.uminator rs he chose.
And BY the way. as was remarked of Picture
writing modern printers seem going back and
adopting the ornaments Of the cid copyiStS. We
have an Illuminated magazine; and the recent
edition Of liar,er's Bible and many other books
viii give an idea OF the iuminator's skill. an.
business, in the ornamental letters Of each ebay
ter or section. have seen an Annut. thisycal
in which the lctter-prcs. printer LETT 4 space iol
4 large letter to be afterwards supplied by the
Photographic printer. Verify there is nothing
new under the sun
have taken some pains TO collect facts and
anecdotes 10 show the scarcity and value Of man
uscrpts. And as the almighty dollar has not al
all times represented the same amount Of prop
crtv, have ms far as possible ascertaincd the
price OF labor grain &c. NJ different times.
The sale of a book was 4 matter OF so grea,
importance that it was customary to assemble
persons of character and note 10 witness the
deed Money was often lent on the dcrosite Il
i book, ia the same mdnUcr As on the dep0slte
OF silver plate. In fact, books We're regarded
much rs jewels and precous stones now are IN
the old world--the property only OF the higher
casses.
In 1892 the Bishop Of Winchester borrowed a
bible in two folio volumes from convent. And
although bishop of high standing, he was re-
Qllrpl 10 give DOll Tor us return uEdWu up III
the most solemn and formal manner.
In Il church OF DreuX. in France, q Latin BIZ
bic. fairly written in two volumes, large folio, is
preserved, at the close OF which is a latin deed
OF Git. The following is translation ol it;
Let all the SOUS OF the Church. whether pres
ent or absent, know that Thomas Scncschall, of
st. Gcryasc hath OF his own free will given this
Library to God and the holy proto martyr Stephen,
for the remission Of his own sins and those OF
his wife Ermeiina, of his son Herbert, and of his
daughters Margaret and Fredcburga the can
ons olthe aforesaid church of the proto martyr
have, therefore, conceded to them the benefits
and prayers of the sand church and after their
removal from this world, the regular celebrations
of their anniversaries in the church, forever Oh
fered by the hand of Thomas himself, and by the
hand Of his wife, on The altar OF the proto mar
tyr Stephen, on the day Of the nativity of our
Lord, in the year Of the incarnation, one thou
sand one hundred and sixteen; in the reign OF
the most pious and sincere worshippar OF God,
King Louis, VI, son of King PhilipI,'
30 late as the tenth century monk writes to
the Pope requesting Of him copy cfQuinnlan,
and ola treatise ofCicero, saying that complete
copy is not to be found in France.
As to price, lind but few facts. Plato il
said to have paid II hundred nina, for three
small treatses, (pamphlets suppose equal To
about 3 500
King Alfred in the eth century gave az niue