Section II.—Block Prints . 
65 
1899 .] 
(6) The formula E (I/?-), in a mutilated form, viz., lines 17, 18, 19. 
In book No. Ill of the Sixth Set. 
I have carefully measured these various recensions of the text. The 
measurements were made vertically, horizontally and diagonally across 
the prints. I measured, in this manner, the whole text in all its forms, 
as well as groups of lines, single lines, half-lines, groups of letters 
and single letters. The result was invariably the same; the corres¬ 
ponding measures in the several books exactly agree, in whatever 
variation they may be taken. Thus measuring the recension I a, from 
the top of the last letter of the first line to the bottom of the last letter 
in the last line (both on the left-hand side of the column, see Plate 
V), the distance is exactly 6 inches. Measuring similarly, the 
distances in the formulas A, C, and E are If, 1 t 9 q and ly 1 ^ inches 
respectively; and again measuring similarly, the width of each of 
the intervals between A and C, and between C and E (within which 
the two formulas B and D are placed) is f of an inch. Measuring the 
recension 16, exactly the same result is obtained. This recension, as has 
been already explained, consists of the formulae A, C and E, with 
blank spaces for B and D. The distance from the top of A to the 
bottom of E, including the blank spaces, is exactly 6 inches ; the width 
of each blank space is § of an inch ; and the widths of A, C and E 
are If, 1 t 9 q and ly 1 -^ inches respectively. The widths of the latter three 
formulas or the three recensions Ic, Id, Ie (see Plates VI and VII), 
when they occur separately in the Pothl (No. II), are precisely the 
same ; and the same is the case with them in their mutilated forms 
If, I g, lh (see Plates XI and XIII). Thus in the recension If, a blank 
space is left, for the omitted line 3, between the lines 2 and 4; and 
measuring from the top of line 1 to the bottom of line 5, the distance 
is, as before, exactly If inches. It is evident, therefore, from these 
comparative measurements that the xylographs of the first set were 
all printed either from the very same block, or from a number of 
blocks with facsimile type. 
It can easily be shown that the latter alternative is the true one, 
and that in all probability eight blocks have been employed in printing 
the xylographs of the first set. A block was prepared in this wise. 
From the smoothened surface of a rectangular (oblong) piece of 
wood the type was cut out in relievo by counter-sinking the background. 
Along the edge of the piece of wood a thin ridge was also left in relievo, 
enclosing the type and the counter-sunk background on all four sides. 
In order to take an impression the surface of the type was inked. 
Of course, the ridge was also inked, but this appears to have been done 
very imperfectly, for in no case did it give more than a very intermittent 
J. I. 13 
