PROCEEDINGS 



OF 



THE ROYAL IRISH ACADEMY, 



POLITE LITERATURE AND ANTIQUITIES. 



PAPEES READ BEFORE THE ACADEMY. 



I. — Ox a Block Book rx the Lebeaey of Teenity College, Dublin. 

 By the Rev. B. Dickson, D. D., E. T. C. D. [Abstract.] 



[Read January 10th 1870.] 



THERE exists in the Library of Trinity College a fragment of an early 

 printed block book, entitled " Ars moriendi." It is bound up with 

 a US. on vellum of the Commentaries of Michael Ephesius upon some 

 books of Aristotle's Nichomachean Ethics; and although entered in 

 the printed catalogue of MSS., published in 1688, yet escaped notice 

 until lately. The only perfect copy of this scarce publication is stated 

 to be in the "^Veigel collection in Leipsic ; and a photographic fac-simile 

 having been recently published, the portions of the Trinity College 

 copy which remain can be proved to be parts of the same edition. 

 The following description of the Leipsic copy, wbich is stated to be 

 unique, has been given by T. 0. "Weigel : — 



" The edition consists of 12 sheets sm. folio, printed upon one side 

 only, thus making up 24 leaves ; the paper is thick and stout, and has 

 the watermark of the head of an ox, with staff and cross, and of an 

 anchor. The printing was effected by rubbing ; and the delineations 

 are of a brownish colour, and in certain parts are somewhat pale. 

 There are no signatures, but where the sheets are folded a dark per- 

 pendicular lide shows that the leaves which face each other were taken 

 off from a single block. The writing is in the so-called Monkish 

 character, and is for the most part skilfully carved. There is no in- 

 dication of the author, the place of printing, or the date. As regards 

 the origin of this masterwork of xylographic printing, the idea seems 



R. I. A. FROC. — VOL. I., SER. II., POL. LIT. AXD AN'TIQ. B 



