The daily phoenix. [volume] (Columbia, S.C.) 1865-1878, 1865-09-01
Early History Of Printing.

Early History OF Printing.
The first attempt at printing in
England was made about the close of
the fourteenth century, by which
playing cards were produced from en-
graved wooden blocks. Soon after
this, block books were printed on the
continent, the earliest of which bears
date 1923. About the same time ap-
peared the Biblin P0uper,u,,, or Book
of the Poor, pri ed in block between
1920 and 143O. Albert Durer engraved
his own masterly designs, and printed
them in this way. AS yet, however,
the art of printing was not-as move
able types, the adoption of which at
once gave vitality to the process, had
not been thought of. In 1876, John
Gutenburg, u lapidary and Il native Of
Mentz, then residing at Strasburg,
having conceived tile idea of printing
with movable types, took into part
nership, with view to carry out his
scheme, Andrew Drizehn, John Eitf
and Anthony Hielmann. Their agree
ment was for five years, but they
uuarrelled in 1439, and went to law to
examination of witnesses on that trial,
it was incont .stibly proved that Gu
tenburg was the author of the new
invention. Having got rid of his late
partners, Gutenberg, in l450, asso-
ciated himself with John Faust, who
advanced capital for the prosecution
of the enterprise. Faust brought his
servant, Peter Schoaher, into the con-
Germ, and Sch9tfer it was who invent
ed punches of engraved steel, by
which the matriXcs were struck from
which the types were cast. The first
work that issued from their press was
a Latin Bible, now known as the
Mazarin Bible. from copy having
been found in Cardinal Mazarins Ii
brary. Faust managed to oust Guten
burg from the partnership in 1855,
and subsequently carried Oh the busi
ness with Schni1er; their first printed
work was 4 Psaltcr, which appeared in
1857. Faust is supposed to have died
of the plague i'll 146G. After his
death, Schni1er had the meanness to
arrogata to his family the entire in
vention of the art OF printing-and
succeeded so far :tS to obtain from the
Emperor Maximilian some lucrative
privileges authenticating his preten-
sions. By this act of the Emperor,
Gutenburg was robbed of his deserved
reputation-his discoveries being at
tributed to his rival, and he regarded
as pretender. He was dead, how
ever, before Schefer dared to advance
his claim. Upon quitting his partners,
he had established a printing press at
Mentz, under the patronage of DIR.
Conrad Humbracht, who advanced the
necessary funds. In 1850, he printed
the great Latin dictionary, "Catho-
Icon Johannis de Balbis, and, in the
same wear, the constitutions of Gle
ment "" A Bible which appeared in
1902 is also ascribed to him. In
1865. he was attached to the Count of
Adolphus, Count of Nassau; and is
supposed to have died in 1868.
The Dutch have disputed with the
Germans for the honor of the inven-
I. ton OF printing, claiming it in behalf
of Laurence Coster, q citizen OF Har-
lem. Their claim will not, however,
bear investigation, and vanishes be-
meath the scrutiny to which it has
been subjected by rigid lnquirers.
1t was not to be expected that such
an art as that of printing could long
be engrossed by few professors.
Attempts we're made to bind the
workmen employed by oaths not to
div,llge the secret attempts which
may have led to false swearing, but
availed as much to spread as to con.
+;,,a +,o 1,r,otica of ths, art No ooora,
was it found that printing was lucra
tiYe employment, than presses sprung