648 



POINTING 



When the reader has read his proof, it is handed to the compositor, who unlocks 

 the form, and makes the corrections in the types, by lifting out the wrong letters by 

 means of a sharp awl or bodkin, and putting in right ones in their places. The form 

 is then locked up again, taken to the press, and another proof is pulled. This is 

 termed the revise, and is sent to the reader, with his first proof, that he may see that 

 all the corrections have been properly made, put queries against doubtful matters for 

 the author's consideration, and send it, thenceforth called a clean proof, with the MS., 

 to the author. When the author returns his proof and revise, and is satisfied that 

 the sheet is correct^ the form, after having been finally read with care for press, is 

 taken to the press or machine to have the requisite number of impressions struck off. 

 Before this is done, however, care is taken that the matter at the beginning of the 

 sheet connects with that at the end of the preceding, that the pages are correct, and 

 that the ' signatures ' are in order. The signatures are generally small capital letters, 

 placed at the foot of the first page of each sheet, commencing with B, and omitting 

 the j, v, and TV. They are said to have been first used by John Koelhof, at Cologne, 

 in 1472; but they exist in an edition of 'Terence,' printed by Antonio Zorat, at 

 Milan, in 1470. There is a Venetian edition of'Baldi Lectura super Codic,' &c., 

 printed by John de Colonia and Jo. Manthen de Gherretzem, in 1474, in which it is 

 evident that these printers had only just become acquainted with the use of signatures, 

 as these marks were not introduced till one-half of the work had been printed. The 

 following Tables show the signatures and folios of any given number of sheets in 8vo, 

 12mo, and 18mo. 



The paper used in printing is always damped before being sent to the press, wet 

 paper taking the ink considerably better than dry. The warehouseman delivers the 

 proper quantity of paper to the wetter, which is wetted thus : The quire of paper 

 is opened, its back broken, and divided into three, four, or five portions, or dips, 

 drawn through a trough of clean water and laid on a board, dip after dip, till a con- 

 venient heap is made. This is put into a screw press, a little pressure applied, and 

 the next day the whole is turned and slightly pressed again, so that fresh surfaces of 

 the paper coming into contact, the moisture is equally diffused throughout the heap. 

 The paper used in printing is of three kinds : imperfect paper, consisting of 20 quires 

 of 24 sheets, or 480 sheets to the ream ; perfect paper (that most generally used) con- 

 sisting of 21 quires, or 516 sheets; and news paper, consisting of 20 quires of 25 sheets 

 each to the ream, or 500 sheets. The stamped sheets of newspaper (generally called 

 stamps, and the plain paper blanks) are always received and delivered by the nett 

 number without allowing for spoilage in the press-work ; but in book-work it is the 



SHEET OF OCTAVO. 



