England: Obscure Beginnings 



IITTLE is known of Jackson's early years. It is assumed that he was born in 

 England about 1700, although many accounts, probably based upon Nag- 

 ^ ler, have him born in 1701. Papillon " conjectures that he studied painting 

 and engraving on wood with "an English painter" named "Ekwits," but is not sure 

 he remembers the name correctly. He believes this artist engraved most of the head 

 pieces and ornaments in Mattaire's Latin Classics, published by J. and R. Tonson 

 and J. Watts in London, 1713, and remarks on similarities with Jackson's style. 

 Chatto '^ believes these cuts were executed by Elisha Kirkall, interpreting the initials 

 EK appearing on one of the prints to refer to this engraver rather than to "Ekwits." 

 He goes on to assume that Kirkall also engraved the blocks for Croxall's edition of 

 Aesop's Fables, 1722, by the same publisher, and adds that Jackson was probably 

 his apprentice and might have had some share in their execution. Most accounts 

 of Jackson, taking Chatto's word, note him as a pupil of Kirkall. 



Linton " believes that only Kirkall or Jackson could have made the cuts, "un- 

 less some Sculptor ignotus is to be credited with that most notable book of graver- 

 work in relief preceding the work of Bewick." 



But it is doubtful that Jackson was a pupil of Kirkall. For this assumption we 

 have the evidence of a curious and important little book. An Enquiry into the 

 Origins of Printing in Europe^^ which because of a misleading tide and an anon- 

 ymous author has been overlooked as a reference source. It is a transcription of 

 Jackson's manuscript journal and was prepared for publication to coincide with 



^- Papillon, 1766, vol. i, p. 323. Most probably Papillon confused "Ekwits" with Elisha Kirkall. 



^^ Chatto and Jackson, 1861 ( ist ed. 1839), p. 448. 



^* Linton, 1889, p. 130. 



'^London, 1752. Hereafter cited as the Enquiry. The first half deals with Jackson's opinions on the 

 origins of printing from movable type and the progress of cutting on wood, the second half with Jack- 

 son's career and his venture into wallpaper manufacturing. The real content of the book was so little 

 known that Bigmore and Wyman's comprehensive, annotated Bibliography of Printing, London, 1880- 

 86, vol. I, p. 201, described it as dealing with "certain improvements in printing-types made by Jackson, 

 the typefounder." 



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