The Milan exchange. (Milan, Gibson County, Tenn.) 1874-1978, 1879-01-30
BIBLICAL CURIOsITIEs.
Book and Wan uaeript Relics of the Oldsn
Time.


Dr. stosghton's =" Oar English Bible"
Among the relics OF that olden time
there are preserved biblical euriosiIies
which deserve a passing notice. We
remember examining many years ago,
in Corpus Christi college, Cambridge, 8
fine specimen CT the " Biblia Pauperum,"
of which few copies only are to be
found in the present day in very rare
collections. 1t consists of rude plates
representing scripture figures and in
cideDts, with q few Latin sentences ex-
plsnatory of the subjects. The work is
printed from wooden blocks in the way
in which plsying-eards were manufsc-
tured-a curious art, which was applied
to the production of books of religious
character, such as the "Speculum
Humans Salvatonis." These block
books, Mr.. Hallsm considers, were exc
cuted in the low countries, but probably
some of them found their way into Eng
land at an early period. They belong to
the first half of the fifteenth century,
anG were precursors of nobler pro-
auctions, whose appearance in the
latter half of the same century
mark memorable era in the
history of mankind. Mr.. Horne, in his
g Introduction" described the "Biblia
Pauperum" as deriving its name from
its being catechism of the bible for the
common people, who we're enabled to
obtain it for a low price; but it could
be of little use to such persons, who can
not be supposed to have been able to
read Latin when so few could read their
own language. 1t seems much more
likely that the volume took its name
from the Franciscan friars, the chief
preachers of the day, who styled Them
selves paupers, the volume probably
being a sort of textbook to aid them in
their ministratiOns. These imperfect
specimens of printing were soon sue
ceeded by productions which filled ihe
world with wonder.
Let the reader imagine himself in the
city of Mentz, in the middle of the IF
teenth century. That thoughtful man
now pacing the banks of the Rhine, and
then entering his own habitstiOn in some
obscure street, tolls in a secret apartment
where no one save an assistant at his I'M
known craft is allowed to enter. He
perseveres until volumes appear, al
marvelously alike, displaying gracefully
formed letters such rs rival the fairest
specimens of psnmsnship. The magic
manuscripts increase in number. No
scriptOrium could multiply them so fast,
Men marvel and think there must &c
witchcraft in this business. The work
man is Gutenberg, sud his house is his
first printing Office. The whole Of a
portion OF the scriptures was certainly
the first book Of a considerable size which
issued from the press. The earliest
bearing a date, is the beautiful psalteI
by Fust Il Schoffer, in 1857, OF which
sumptuOus copy, printed on vellum,
adorns the royal library at Windsor
But Latin bible, with the prologue of
St. Jerome, printed probably by Gut
tenberg at Mentz, between 1850 and
1455, and commonly called the Mszarin
bible, on the very slight ground of copy
having been found in Cardinal Mazarin's
library, is considered the earliest offspring
of the noble invention; "and we may
see," exclaims Mr.. Hallsm, " this veneer
able and splendid volume leading Up the
crowded myriads OF its followers and i'm
ploring, as it were, a blessing on the new
art by dedicating its fruits to the SER
vice of Heaven As was natural. early
types Tor printing were formed on the
model of writing characters, and hence
the earliest bibles and psslters in German
p esented letters such as had been used
by scribes in Eisssls and other reiigl0 8
books; but when German printers went
to reside st the famous monastery Of
Subiaco, near Rome, they cut punches
in imitation OF the letters used in Italy.
Thus printed books 80 much resenibIed
manuscripts that they were sometimes
mistaken Tor them and even until very
lately copy OF the MazaIin or Gluten
berg bible. preserved at Lambeth palace,
passed as the work of = scribe instead o.
the work Of q nTiutPr