Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1858-03-11
Mistellaneous &eabina
THE ART OF PRINTING.

THE ART OF PRINTING.
To no one is the world so much indebt
ed for its present advancement as to that o.
Printing. and we have thought that short
sketch of its history might prove interesting
to our readers.
Letter Press Printing was invented in
144O by John Gutenberg, in Mayeuce on
the Rhine. Long before this, however, diff
ferent means were made use of to make i'm
pressions. They approached 50 nearly tc
printing that it is a matter of some wonder
that the art was not discovered at an earlier
day. For instance, the Hebrews, Greeks
and Romans, used to cast or cut seals and
sealings, with which they made impressions
on soft substances, or with paint. The lat
ter people had stamps cut, which we're used
in the place of signatures to official and Other
documents.
In the 18th century Xylographic printing
or the art of cutting in wood, had attained
a high degree of perfection in Germany
Passages from the Bible were printed in this
manner.
The Chinese, as far back as 1884, B. c.,
were acquainted with Xylograpic printing,
but the japanese claim the merit of the in
vention. The process which they adopted,
was to write on paper with red ink, glue the
paper on plate of soft wood, and moisten
it. After allowing it to dry, they separated
the paper from the wood by wipingit with
sponge, leaving the characters reserved on
the wood. They then cut the wood from a.
round the letters which were thus left prom
inent. The Emperor Fanti had book print
ed in this way as early as A. D. COS.
The real art Of printing-that is, the en-
ployment of movable, separate letters, as in
the present types-is unquestionably due to
John Gutenberg, born in Mayence in 1897.
Soon after coming of age, he removed to
Strasbourg, where he followed the craft Of
stone-cutting and polishing mirrors. Soon
afterwards, however, he conceived the idea
of making improvements in the printing art,
and commenced his experiments on as ex'
tended scale as his means would allow. He
at first used wooden plates, and in l424
printed the A B G plates. His resources,
however, soon failed, and he was compelled
to leave Strasbourg-not, however, until he
had successfully carried out his early con-
cieved idea of using movable letters made
of wood, with which hepriuted Gesto Chris
ii, and other works.
We next hear from him in Mentz, in l449,
where he continues his experiments on SIM
gle letters. His fortune was wholly exhaust
ed, but with the perseverance of true genius
he still endeavored to push forward. Acct
dent made him acquainted with rich gold
smith in Mentz, an Englishman, by the name Of
John Faust, who, becoming ginspired with the
pictures drawn by the ardent enthusiast: and
hoping himself to benefit by the important
discovery, lent his name and means, and in
l449 these two persons established the first
typographical press of which we have any
account From this time Improvements were
made in rapid succession. At first Guttem-
berg used metallic letters of mixture of lead
and tin, but in. 1852 they commenced cast
ing their types. The printing press and ink
improved pari passu, and the world saw the
dawn of the light, which was to illuminate
its path towards knowledge and science.
In the next year, Gutenberg having
charge of the printing house, commenced the
publication of the Bible in Latin. Twelve
sheets had been prepared, when the partners
quarreled. Faust sued Gutenberg and OBJ
tanned possession of the whole apparatus, with
which he continued successfully to print Bi-
bles and other works. The Bibles he sold at
Paris, for sixty and finally for fifty gold gild'
ers-their former price having been 400 to
500 gilders. The good people of France,
unable to see how thing could be at the
same time good and cheap, speedily resolved
that Faust had connection with the Evil One,
and he was compelled to leave subsequent
ly he returned there, and in l466 died Of
the plague. After which, Schoeffer, the
son-in-law of Faust, continued the printing
on his own account.
Gutenberg was again reduced to poverty
hut in 1856 he succeeded in starting press
in Mentz, and published some important
works. He continued thereafter still impro
wing in his work until his death, in 1863
when his press and type was delivered ove'
to his partner.
The workmen of Mentz soon spread the
new art over the world, and before the enc
of that century books became abundant, and
presses were established in most of the capi
tails of Europe.
Thus the great engine of mental improve
ment in the world, grew from infancy to ma
turity, in the short space of half century
Unaided by the patronage of princes anc
kings that power sprung up, which was des
tined to crush all tyrants. The day dawnec
which was to teach the people of the worlc
that their rulers were created by them-uo
they by their rulers. The treasures of knowl
edge were made free to all, and all were en-
abled to press forward in the race of intel
lectual advancement.