The times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1897-1901, 1900-07-08
PROGRESS OF PRINTING
Celebration of the Fifth Centenary
Of Gutenberg's Birth.
Review of the Art Since It's Discovery
Tho Earliest Specimens Faust
and the Biblc-InventiOn of Stereo-
typing-MethodsI Introduced by Ged
in 1925 md TillOch In 1579.

The fifth centenary OF the birth OF John
Gutenberg, the first printer Of the Blb.e.
was celebrated from June % to June 26.
at Mayence Tor Mentz). with all due cere-
moIy. Whether Gutenberg or Roster or
another was the first real typographer iced
not concern US now. The controversy en-
the subject has been OF almost unparalleled
duration and magnitude. but, as in so n any
similar disputes. the issue would probably
be of very little consequence. even If il
could be determined beyond doubt. The
occasion may be turned to more profitab e
account by taking a cursory survey OF the
rise and progress-not to say the e'o!ution
of the art with which. at all events.
Gutenberg's name is indisso.ub.y asso-
ciated
The first dim glimmerlng of con ep-
tion OF. the art OF printing must sur ely
have occurred to some prehisto /; "thinke-
in advance of his age" when first he began
to 'let his consciousness play freely
around" the cause and effect OF footprints.
In what manner this primitive conception
was first developed none can tell. I'm
pressed seals would seem to be removed
by several stages from the immediate
adaptation of the idea. yet they are up
parently as old as civilization. The Baby
lonish bricks of clay bearing hierogyphics
stamped in relief are also OF very respect
able antiquity, and are equally OF the earth
earthly with the footprints. TIE stamp ng
of coins is also an art OF highly espsct-
BILE antiquity. This stamping OF DICKS.
Of seals, and Of coins is obviously nta
approach to 1.-The art preventative of al
arts" In each case the object is the MIL
tiplication of copies. Stamping Is s-b-
stantively printing: subsequent develop
ments are mere notifications tending
chiefly toward speed. economy, and con-
venience. The essential difference le-
tween stamping and typography is that in
the former case the device is an integi al
part of the material impressed: In the lat
ter case the device Is additional to the
material. being transferred from an orig
inal (cngraved or otherwise fashioned) by
means OF an intervening stain or pigment.
II is astonishing that such an astute AID
ingenious people as the old Romans. who
stamped their pottery more or less elabc-
rately with monograms names, and other
marks. should have failed To take the one
step necessary to complete the invention
of printing.
The earliest extant specimen of printing
in the west is devotional picture repre-
senting ST. Christopher carrying the in
FAINT Jesus over the sea. The print bears
Latin inscription in the Gothic character
and the date 1923. 1t was found pasted
inside the cover of a Latin manuscript
book in monastery at Brxheim. near
Augsburg. Such prints as the 'St. Christie
pher"-known as Image prints"--were
produced by cutting the picture and the
text in relief and in reverse on wooden
block. The design was then linked over
and transferred to paper. The pictures
thus obtained were generally cOlored by
hand TIE combination of several such