THE HAMILTON ASSOCIATION, ide) 
decade of the art of printing were produced from at least four 
different kinds of types. Experts differ in opinion as to how these 
types were made, as much as they do in regard to who made them, 
Some believe with Fournier—a typefounder and engraver—that the 
‘Mainz Psalter was printed with wood letters; others equally com- 
petent to judge agree with DeVinne that “ no book was ever printed 
‘‘in Europe with small types of wood.” And there seems to be a 
balance of probability that these types were of metal, cast from 
pattern letters of wood in sand or clay, after the manner of working 
jewelry and trinkets at that time, and, that after being so cast, they 
were trimmed and finished by hand. In the Mainz Psalter different 
impressions of the same letter of the alphabet exhibit variations. of 
form, readily detected by the practised eye. Such variety of form 
in the same letter may be inadequate proof the types used were 
wood or metal; but it does show that the making of types with a 
steel punch, and copper matrix to serve as a mould for type metal 
fusible at a lower temperature, was a step further on in the progress 
of ihe art. 
Inscriptions—colophons—formerly placed at the end of books, 
used to give readers the information now printed on title-pages at 
their beginning. Of the books printed at Mainz, in the first decade 
of the art of printing, some have colophons informing the reader 
where they were produced and by whom; and that they were 
printed, and not written with reed, stylus, or pen. Of the inventor 
of the art of making books by such new method, nothing, however is 
said ; on that point the oracles are dumb. The invention was 
hedged around and the art carried on with a view to secrecy ; of 
that there is little ground tor doubt. Publicity would have im- 
periled control of the new art, and might have reduced the mone- 
tary value of books produced in so innovating a manner. Early 
printed books were facsimiles of carly manuscripts in every day 
use, and could hardly be distinguished from them. Mr. Blades 
relates that a few years since an English book-seller of experience 
and reputation unwittingly sold for half a crown, as an old manu- 
script, a book printed by Caxton, worth its weight in gold. Popular 
belief that Fust sold in Paris some of his early-printed Bibles as 
manuscrips, may not have been altogether without foundation. Be 
that as it may, name of producer, place, and details of origin were 
