22 JOURNAL AND PROCEEDINGS. 
printed in former times, what they say is untrue, and that no books 
printed in former times can be found in any country. The Cologne 
Chronicle bears the name of John Koelhof, Burger of Cologne; but 
the writer is unknown. It was written in 1499, and the writer en- 
hances the interest of his account by stating that Ulrich Zell, who — 
brought the art of printing to Cologne, and was at that time still a 
printer there, told him by word of mouth the beginning and pro- 
gress of that art. Koelhof was himself a printer of note, and is 
credited with being first of the printers to introduce on each finished 
sheet the use of printed in lieu of written signatures as a guide for 
bookbinders. He commenced to print in Cologne in 1472, and as 
Zell arrived there from Mainz about ten years before that date, it is 
probable that Koelhof learned the art of printing from Zell himself. 
Other evidence of great volume, but much of it less tangible and 
direct, is adduced to sustain the contention; that the art of typo- 
graphy was first invented by Gutenberg, and was first practised at 
Mainz ; that capital for carrying out Gutenberg’s plans was fur- 
nished by Fust; that, tired at Gutenberg’s delay, Fust took suit 
against him for the money loaned and gained judgment ; and that 
the art was further completed and perfected by Schoeffer, who be- 
came Fust’s partner. 
This paper is not controversial; neither can it add aught by 
way of fact or argument to a dispute around which cluster the 
accumulated truths and prejudices of centuries. Its aim is but to 
cast a passing glance at the present phase of a controversy concern- 
ing the origin of an art, which, judged by its utility and results, is 
perhaps greatest of the arts found out by man. A controversy that 
has interested each succeeding generation from the sixteenth century 
till now ; which retains its interest undiminished for more readers to 
day than ever before, and which bids fair to carry over a considerable 
remainder of unsettled particulars as an heirloom to the next gener- 
ation ; deserves attention, and is worth the trouble of looking at 
through the murky atmosphere surrounding both sides of the dispute. 
Uncertainty concerning the origin of printing is explained by the 
doubt surrounding discoveries made in this century. In inventions 
ot chemistry, metallurgy, optics, and in those of the mechanical and 
industrial arts, the names of contesting inventors of our day are 
legion. Besides in medieval times, inventive genius in following up 
