PRINTING AND GRAPHIC ARTS. 
The purpose of these collections is to show the history, the 
evolution and the practical processes of the arts employed in 
printing and illustration. The subjects are treated from the mod- 
ern point of view, that is to say, as technical processes of the use- 
ful and fine arts of today. Their origin as practical arts dates 
back to the fourteenth century, previous to which time they are 
purely of archeologic interest. The historical specimens, there- 
fore, begin for the most part at the mediaeval period, when 
these arts commenced to be factors in civilization. 
ALCOVE 118. 
TYPOGRAPHY. 
This alcove is devoted to collections illustrating the develop- 
ment of typography, printing presses, and accessories of printing. 
South Wall. — A series of pictures of the early printers, 
Gutenberg, Coster, Aldus, Caxton and others. Also samples of 
fine printing, contributed by the Imperial German Printing Of- 
fice, Berlin. 
Case 50.— Old Ramage printing press. This is like 
the press preserved in the Smithsonian Institution, used by 
Benjamin Franklin. It is the original pattern of the Washington 
hand press of today, and was used by the Confederate States 
Government in Columbia, South Carolina, during the war , to print 
Confederate money. It has been in actual use for the past fifty 
years for printing a newspaper. The bed takes two pages of a five- 
column paper, but requires two impressions to print it. The frame 
is of wood and an iron impression screw is used instead of a lever. 
Contributed by Barnhart Bros. & Spindler, Chicago. 
Case 51. — Comparative collection of writings and books of 
various nations; ancient and modern. 
Cases 52 to 54. — Collection of old and modern books 
illustrating the work of the renowned printers of the 15th century 
and affording a comparison with the product of the modern pub- 
lisher. Above Case 52 is a frame of wood type of many artistic 
patterns, contributed by the Hamilton Manufacturing Company. 
