PRINTING. The art of taking copies by impression of type, engraved plates and blocks, or of any design or work whatever, in black-ink or pigments of various colours; but the word printing, standing alone, 'without any distinctive addition, is usually understood to imply typography, or printing from type, usually Called letter-press printing, which we propose to notice in the fist place.
It is a remarkable circumstance, that notwithstanding the art of letter-press printing has formed a new en in the history and character of our !species, the origin of ita invention is involved in mysterious obscurity. The primitive honour of having given birth to this sublime vehicle, of knowledge has been claimed by the Italian, the German, the Dutch, and the Swiss nations. The inhabitants of Mentz, Strasbourg, and Haerlem, seem to have the moat solid ground for their boasting' ; but we are bound to state, that the citizens of Venice, Rome, Florence, Basle, Augsburg, and Dordrecht, oertify to the con trary thereof. The discussion of this interesting question not according with the nature of our work, we recommend those of our readers who are solicitous for information upon the early history of the art, to the article PRINTING, in the Oxford Encyclopedia. We may, however, observe, that it seems to be admitted by all parties that this invention took place about the year 1440, and was brought to England by William Caxton, who set up his first press in Westminster Abbey, and began to print books some time after the year 1471. In the early stages of the art, the impressions were taken off with a list coiled up, such as the card makers use at this day; but when they came to use single types, they employed stronger paper, with vellum and parchment. At last the press was introduced, and brought gradually to its present state. The same observation applies to the ink ; at first the common writing ink was employed; and the printing ink of lamp-black and size, and lamp-black and oil (that now used) were introduced by degrees. We shall now proceed to explain the printer's art, as it is prac tised at the present day ; premising that it is divided into two branches composition, or the arrangement of the types, and press-work, or the taking cif impressions from types so arranged : the workmen employed are therefore dis tinguished into two classes,—" compositors" and "pressmen." Each compositor works at a sort of desk, called a frame, and, in most instances, he has a desk or frame to himself. The frames project laterally from the wall. At intervals
there are large tables, with stone tops, technically called imposing-stones. Each frame at which a compositor works is constructed to hold two pair of cases; each pair of cases contains all the letters of the alphabet, whether small letters or capitals, as well as points, figures, &c. &c. One of these pair of cases is occupied by the Roman letters, the other by the Italic. The upper case is divided into ninety-eight partitions, all of equal size ; and these partitions con tain two sets of capital letters, one denominated "full capitals," the other "small ;" one set of figures, the accented vowels, and the marks of reference for notes. The lower ease is divided into partitions of four different sizes; some at the top and ends being a little smaller than the divisions of the upper case ; others nearer the centre, being equal to two of the small divisions; others equal to four, and one equal to six ; in all there are fifty-three divisions in the lower case. The inequality in the size of the cells in the lower case is to provide for the great differences as to the quantity required of each letter. According to the language in which it is used, one letter is much more wanted than another, and the proportions required of each have been pretty accurately settled by long experience. As some of our readers may be curious to know these proportion. as they apply to the English language, we subjoin the type-founders' scale for the small characters of a fount of letter, of a particular size and weight :— The proportion in which a particular letter is required renders it necessary that the cells of the lower case should be arranged, not as the letters follow each, alphabetically, but that those in most frequent use should be nearest the hand of the compositor. The point to which he brings the letters, after picking them • up out of their cells, is not far removed from the centre of the lower case ; so that in a range of about six inches on every side he can obtain the c, d, e, s, in, n, h, o, p, u, t, a, and r, the letters in most frequent use. The which he wants for the division of every word, lie close at his hand, at seas, ottom of the central division of the lower can. It must be quits obvious, that the man who contrived this arrangement saved a vast deal of time to the compositor.