THE HAMILTON ASSOCIATION. os Te 
forerunners of that art, and give the best clue by which its history 
can be traced. They are legitimate next of kin to the art of print- 
ing books; seals. and brands for identification of cattle, slaves and 
felons, are but poor and distant relations. ‘These are the oldest and 
only kindred to printing Europe can boast. The far east has cog- 
nate arts of great antiquity and interest. 
Among the saint pictures—elgen or Hezligen—which helped 
to pave the way for printed books, the engraving of St. Christopher, 
found in 1769, by Heinecken, inside the cover of a manuscript at 
the Chartreuse Convent of Buxheim, in Suabia, stands first. It is 
a print from a knife engraving, cut in wood used plank-wise ; and 
afterthe outline drawing was printed, it was colored by hand. or 
stencil. It is one of the treasures of Earl Spencer’s collection, 
lately bought at a cost of nearly a quarter of a million pounds 
sterling for the whole library by the widow of Mr. John Rylands for 
presentation to the City of Manchester. Mr. W. J. Linton gives a 
facsimile of this print, as a frontispiece to his great work ‘“‘ The 
Masters of Wood Engraving” It is the earliest dated wood engrav- 
ing known. Under the picture is engraved the date, 1423, anda 
Latin couplet, near the date, gives the beholder assurance : 
Christoferi faciem die quacunge tueris 
Illa nempedie morte mala non morieris. 
‘«‘ That day thou Christopher’s face shall see, 
No evil death shall happen thee.”’ 
Apart from its historical worth, this print has a charm from the 
naive manner in which the devout old artist tells the legend of St. 
Christopher. More than twice the stature of common men, he was 
bound to serve the most powerful ruler on earth. On the advice of 
a holy man, he undertook to carry pilgrims across a certain stream. 
One day a child came to be carried over. The gigantic ferryman 
was surprised that the weight of the little one should be so heavy a 
burden ; and on looking up to learn the reason, he is told that the 
child borne on his shoulders is the Lord of All, and receives His 
blessing. The rude picture is full of life. The great strength of 
the saint is seen at a glance from the palm tree he used as a staff. 
His immense stature is evident by comparing him with the hermit 
at his shrine, of whom even the timid rabbit is not afraid ; or with 
