C ?88 ] 
XI. The Tdefcription of an Antique Metal 
Stamp, in the Collection cf his Grace 
Charles Duke of Richmond, Lenox 
and Aubigny, F. R. S. &c. being one of 
the Injlances , how near the Romans had 
arrived to the Art of Printing 5 with fome 
Remarks by C. Mortimer, M. 2). Fellow 
INCE Arts and Sciences, efpecially Statuary and 
Sculpture, were arrived at fo great Perfection, 
when the Roman Empire was in its Glory, as the 
many beautiful Statues, the exquifite IntagUaJ, and 
fine Medals, which Time hath handed down to us, do 
fufficiently evince j it is much to be wonder'd at, that 
they never hit upon the Method of printing Books. 
The Dies they made for their Coins, and their 
(tamping them on the Metal, was in reality Printing 
on Metal j their Seals cut in Cornelians and Agates, 
and their prefling them on Dough and foft W ax, was 
another fort of Printing and a third fort was the 
marking their earthen Veflels, while the Clay was 
foft, with the Name of the Potter, or the Owner the 
Yeflel was made for. Thefe being of a larger Size, 
were 
