The Irish standard., 1913-01-18
ART PRESERVATIVE
The Vatican Printing Office Worlds
Oldest Printing Plant.


Linotype Bulletin for Decelnber) sew
eral pages of the first edition of the
"Psalterium Brcviarii Romani," Il
copy of which was presented to our
treasurer While on a visit to Rome
during the past summer. This edi-
ton OF the book, OF ten thousand
copies. was printed direct from limo
type sluss, in black and red, and is
beautiful example of topographic. 1t
is u revision of the service by the
present Pope, and the edition printed
ut the Vatican is not offered for sale.
that Way hundreds of thousands Of
copies will be distributed.
Mi. Warburton (Secretay of the
Mergenthaler Linotype Company, af-
ter an audience With the Pope, had q
most cordial reception from Com
lnendatore Pasquale Scott, the Direc-
tor of the Vatican Printing Office, vino
conducted him personally through his
establishment The linotypes are
locked upon as among it's chief treas
ureS. Following is Il short account of
the institution of the office, sent us
through the courtesy OF Sig. J. Nell
sol Banks. Manager Of the Societa
Linotype ltaliana, whose office is at
Milan: q.
The Tipografa Poliglotta vaticana
was founded by Pope Sixtus V 15S5-
800, VINO thus became one OF the ear.
lest lntroducers OF the printing art
into Italy. The first printing office,
however, was not in the Vatican. but
WAS installed III a convent at Subiago,
near Rome. and it appears that it was
there that two German brothers, an
Prentices of Gutenberg, first taught
the art of printing. under the protec-
ton of Sixtus V. Shortly afterwards
the printing office was removed to the
vatican and installed over the ponti-
1ical law courts. where it ren,ni-,ed
until the accession of the present Pope
Plus X.
The latter, recognizing the neces-
sity OF undermining the institution
mad the present building erected.
equipped it with the latest and best
machinery and appliances, a.1d placed
iT under the able management ,f
Comm. Pasquale Scott. 1t is 8, fine.
airy structure, perfectly lighted and
ARRANGED i'll the most orderly and con-
Vchient fashion. On the ground floor
are the Offices, the press and stereo-
typlhg rooms, and the paper maca-
zines. The floor above is entirely, oc.
cupied by the composing department
ara is divided into two sections, one
lor the particular and private work
OF the Vatican and the other for tho
feilsious publications, such as psal-
'efs' Dreviaries and propaganda lit
eiature. In each of these sections two
conference.-the lintoypes are in
stalled and these four machines lin
practically the whole of the compost
ton in the establishment. Hand COM
position is employed only for. special
work. such as the wonderful French
Partisan dictionary, which has lust
been completed.
Inc library of the printing office is
most interesting, and its exhibits form
a complete chain in the progress of
printing front the fifteenth century to
the present day. Here may be seen.
for Instance, books printed on hand
presses from type held together by a
poker passed through each separate
character. The last important work
produced is the "Psalterium Breyarii
Romani.",
Comm. Scott modestly informs his
visitors that the entire credit for this
fine establishment, with all its mod
ern machinery, is due to Ellis Holt
ness Pope Pho n"