Transcriber’s Note
Text originally printed in Old English or Black Letter is indicatedhere by boldface.
GUTENBERG,
AND
THE ART OF PRINTING.
BY
EMILY C. PEARSON,
AUTHOR OF “RUTH’S SACRIFICE,” “THE POOR WHITE,” “PRINCEPAUL,” “OUR PARISH,” ETC.
BOSTON:
NOYES, HOLMES AND COMPANY,117 Washington Street.
1871.
Entered according to Act of Congress, in the year 1870, by
Emily C. Pearson,
in the Office of the Librarian of Congress at Washington.
RIVERSIDE, CAMBRIDGE:
STEREOTYPED AND PRINTED BY
H. O. HOUGHTON AND COMPANY.
TO THE GIFTED INTELLECTS,
WILLING HEARTS,
AND DEXTEROUS FINGERS
ENGAGED IN MAKING THE GREAT ART
A BLESSING TO THE WORLD.
PREFATORY.
Printing has been styled “The telescope ofthe soul.” As the optical instrument bringsnear and magnifies objects remote and invisible, soprinting puts us in communication with minds ofthe past and present, and preserves the thoughtsof this age for future generations.
But no one of the good and great of the past waspermitted to lead the way in embodying thought onthe printed page, save the wonderful man sketchedin this volume. Out of a full heart of reverence,then, it is most fitting to embalm the memory ofGutenberg.
While musing on certain old archives touchingthe history of printing, it was suggested by literaryfriends, that we weave a memorial narrative of thechevalier and artisan honored in bringing the art tolight. Accordingly we engaged in the work, havingculled the most authentic warp and woof withinreach.
ivDevised in the quiet of old libraries, and in thehush of peace, our little history finds itself heraldedby the march of armies, and the clash of empires.War, ever to be deplored as the authorof almost unmingled evil, has turned attention tothe cradles of printing,—Strasbourg and Mentz.Directly we recognize them, shake hands, and areat home with those glorious old Rhenish cities,made famous for all time.
It is an interesting fact that the final completionof the world-famed Minster or Cathedral of Strasbourg,closely preludes the time when the art ofprinting had its rise. Earth’s loftiest spire maywell mark the place where Heaven gave the greatesttreasure-art to man.
Pains have been taken to harmonize the accountsof early print