604 PAPER, PARCHMENT, INK, BOOKS, ETC. 



College 7y. 6d. In 1520 book chains cost is. ^d. the dozen. 

 In 1549 the chains purchased to fasten eight books cost 6s. %d. 

 A single chain, bought in London, to fasten a primer to a desk, 

 cost id. It appears that the custom of chaining books came in 

 with, or immediately after, the invention of printing. 



In the subjoined tables of annual and decennial averages, the 

 first is of paper by the quire and ream (R), the second of parch- 

 ment by the quire (Q), dozen and roll (R). The decennial 

 averages are of paper by the ream and the dozen quires, of parch- 

 ment by the dozen and the roll. In the price of paper by the 

 ream that described as ' small ' is estimated only. These are at 

 a maximum price of 6s. 8d. the ream. Hence those which are 

 called royal, and those quoted at i$s. ^d. are omitted. I am 

 clear that the 'smalP paper of the later centuries is the same both 

 by quire and ream with that in the earlier notices. 



