devotion, and supposed to be the earliest of the "Block-books." The cuts are coloured by hand. Considered by Heinecken to be the first edition. See his Idée Générale, &c., p. 292. Purchased in 1848.

There are three other editions of this Block-Book shown.

7. The Book of Canticles.-Block-book. Some copies of this edition have a Dutch inscription at the head of the first leaf. This copy has the inscription. See Ottley, History of Engraving, vol. i. p. 139. Purchased in 1838.

8. The Book of Canticles.-Block-book, with the cuts coloured by hand, and without any inscription. See Heinecken, Idée Générale, &c., p. 374. Bequeathed by the Rev. C: M. Cracherode.

CASE II.

2. Speculum Humane Salvationis.-Block-book. Grenv. Catal., Part I, vol. ii. p. 678. Bequeathed by the Right Hon. Thomas Grenville.

3. Ars Moriendi.-Block-book; the second edition, according to Heinecken, Idée Générale, p. 406. Purchased in 1845.

6. Temptationes Demonis.—A single page printed from a block, showing the seven deadly sins and the minor sins which spring from them, with the texts of Scripture applicable to each. Described in North British Review for Nov. 1846, p. 153. Purchased in 1842.

8. A German Almanack, by Magister Johann von Kunsperck, i. e. Johann Müller, called Regiomontanus.-Block-book, produced at the press of the celebrated Astronomer Regiomontanus, at Nuremberg, about 1474. Supposed to be the earliest printed almanack. Described in Panzer's Annalen, i. p. 76. Purchased in 1855. 14. Impression from a block, representing the Seven Ages of Man, with the Wheel of Fortune in the centre.-Date about 1460. Described in the Archæologia, vol. xxxv., 1853. Purchased in 1846.

In Case III., containing specimens of the earliest productions of the Printing Press in Germany, every article exhibited deserves particular attention.

In looking at these, we stand face to face, with the first efforts of that marvellous art which has proved to be the most powerful engine of modern civilization, and we are astonished at the wonderful perfection which it reached in its very infancy.

The articles exhibited in this case are as follows:

1. Bible, in Latin.-The earliest complete printed book known, commonly called the Mazarine Bible because the copy which first attracted notice in modern times was discovered in the library of Cardinal Mazarin. Supposed to have issued from the press of Gutenberg and Fust at Mentz, about 1455. From the library of King George III.

2. A Bull of Indulgence, granted by authority of Pope Nicholas V. to those who should aid the King of Cyprus against the Turks. -Dated 1455, and probably printed at Mentz. On vellum. Described by Léon de la Borde, Débuts de l'Imprimerie à Mayence et à Bamberg, 1840. Purchased in 1845. 3. Psalter, in Latin.-On vellum. Printed at Mentz, by Fust and Schoeffer, in 1457. The first printed Psalter; the first book printed with a date; and the first example of printing in colours, as shown in the initial letter Bequeathed by the Right Hon. Thomas Grenville.

4. Psalter.-On vellum. The second edition of the Mentz Psalter, printed by Fust and Schoeffer, in 1459. The second book with a date. From the library of King George III.

5. Bible, in Latin.-Printed at Mentz, by Fust and Schoeffer, in 1462. On vellum. The first Bible with a date, and the first work divided by the date into two volumes. From the library of King George III.

6. Cicero. Officiorum libri tres.-On vellum. Printed at Mentz, by Fust and Schoeffer, 1465. The first edition of the first Latin classic printed, and one of the two books in which Greek type was first used. Bequeathed by the Right Hon. Thomas Grenville. 7. Regulæ grammatices, or Grammaticæ rudimenta. This work comprises rules of Grammar, explained in Latin verse, with Concordances extracted from Priscianus.-Printed at Mentz, by Johann Fust, in 1468. From the library of King George III. 8. Clement V. Constitutiones.-On vellum. Printed at Mentz, by Peter Schoeffer, in 1471. Purchased in 1845.

It is not necessary here to enlarge upon the rival pretensions of Germany and Holland for the honour of the invention of Printing. Suffice it to say that the best authorities are in favour of the former country, and that the latest writer upon the subject, Dr. Van der Linde, himself a Dutchman, has nounced in favour of Germany and Gutenberg.

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It is remarkable that not a single book or document bears the name of Gutenberg as the Printer; but there is abundant evidence that he brought the art to its perfection, and was in partnership with Fust, the rich goldsmith, who furnished the money for the enterprise. After the production of the Great

Bible the partnership was dissolved, and then the names of Fust and Schoeffer appear as the Printers.

In Case IV. are exhibited further specimens of the early productions of the Printing Press in Germany.

directed to the following :—

Attention is

1. Bible in Latin.-Printed at Bamberg by Albrecht Pfister, about 1460. From the library of King George III.

2. Missale Ordinis S. Benedicti.-On vellum.

Commonly called the Bamberg Missal; printed there by Johann Sensenschmidt in 1481. From the library of King George III.

3. St. John Chrysostom. In Psalmum Miserere.-Printed at Cologne, by Ulric Zell, in 1466. The earliest book known to have been printed by Ulric Zell with a date. From the library of King George III.

8. Bible, in German.-Printed at Nuremberg by Anthony Koburger in 1483. From the library of King George III.

In Case V. the series of early German books is continued, and the following early productions of the Press in the Low Countries are also shown, viz.—

5. Pontanus de Roma. Singularia in causis criminalibus.-Printed in the Low Countries about 1470. Described in Edes Althorp.

ii. 237 and Bibliog. Decameron, i. 359. From the old royal collection.

6. La Controversie de Noblesse. A translation of a Latin work of Bonus Accursius, by J. Mielot.-Printed at Bruges, by Colard Mansion, about 1475. Purchased in 1850.

7. St. Bonaventura. Sermones de Tempore et de Sanctis.—Printed at Zwoll, in Overyssel, Netherlands, in 1479.

Cranmer's copy.

Archbishop

The first book printed at Zwoll. From the

old royal collection. 8. Reynaert die Vos.-Printed at Gouda, in South Holland, by Gerard Leew, in 1479. The first edition of Reynard the Fox in any language. Bequeathed by the Right Hon. Thomas Grenville.

9. Dyalogus creaturaru.-Printed at Gouda, by Gerard Leew, in 1480. With woodcuts. The first edition of this work. Bequeathed by the Right Hon. Thomas Grenville.

10. Otto von Passau. De boec des Gulden Throens, of der xxiiii ouden.-Printed at Haarlem, in 1484. Purchased in 1846. 12. Cronycles of the Reame of England.-Printed at Antwerp by Gerard Leew in 1493. Bequeathed by the Right Hon. Thomas Grenville.

In Case VI. are shown some of the earliest productions of

the Printing Press in Italy. The following are of remarkable interest:

1. Lactantius Opera.-Printed in the Monastery of Subiaco, near Rome, by Sweynheym and Pannartz, in 1465. The first book printed in Italy with a date. Bequeathed by the Rev. C. M. Cracherode.

2. Livy. Printed at Rome, by Sweynheym and Pannartz, about 1469. The only copy known to exist on vellum. Printed for Pope Alexander VI., when Vice-Chancellor of the Roman See and Abbot of the Monastery of Subiaco, where the above-named printers took up their abode, and introduced the art of printing into Italy. In 1815, the present volume was sold for £903. Bequeathed by the Right Hon. Thomas Grenville.

5. Dante. Divina Comedia.-Printed at Foligno, by Joannes Numeister, in 1472. The first edition of this work. From the library of King George III.

7. Lascaris. Greek Grammar.-Printed at Milan by Dionysius Paravisini, in 1476. First edition of the first book printed in Greek characters. Bequeathed by the Rev. C. M. Cracherode. 13. Virgil.-Printed at Venice by Aldus, in April, 1501. The first book printed in Italic types, and the earliest attempt to produce cheap books by compressing the matter into a small space, and reducing the size of the page. Bequeathed by the Right Hon. Thomas Grenville.

In Case VII. this series is continued, with the addition of specimens of early printing in France; for example :—

7. Gasparinus Barzizius. Liber epistolarum.-Printed at the Sorbonne in Paris, by Ulrich Gering, Michael Friburger, and Martin Crantz, in 1470. The first book printed in France. Purchased in 1848.

8. L'Art et Science de Rhetorique.-Printed at Paris by Antoine Verard, in 1493. On Vellum. Henry VII.'s copy. From the old royal collection.

11. Les Quatre Filz Aymon.-Printed about 1480 at Lyons. From the old royal collection.

15. Missale secundum usum Ecclesie Sarisburiensis.-Printed at Rouen by Martin Morin, in 1492. Purchased in 1848.

16. Missale secundum usum Ecclesie Sarisburiensis.-On vellum. Printed at Rouen, by Martin Morin, in 1497. This copy belonged to Cardinal Pole. Purchased in 1852.

In Case VIII. are shown specimens of the earliest productions of the Printing Press in England; together with

specimens of the books printed abroad by William Caxton, the first English Printer, before he introduced the art into England. Caxton, who was born in 1422, and in 1438 was apprenticed to Robert Large, Mercer of the City of London, appears to have removed into Flanders about 1441, when his master Large died. He became a merchant at Bruges, and was so successful in his businsss that he was made "Governor of the English Nation abroad." Afterwards he entered into the service of Margaret, Duchess of Burgundy. According to Mr. Blades, his latest and best biographer, he learned the art of printing from Colard Mansion, at Bruges, about the year 1474. His first book and the first book printed in English was No. 3 in this Case:

3. Le Fevre. Recuyell of the Historyes of Troye.-Printed abroad by Caxton, about 1475. The first book printed in English. From the library of King George III.

Caxton is also supposed to have printed the original French of this work, No. 2:

2. Le Fevre. Le Recueil des Histoires de Troyes.-Printed by Caxton, about 1475. This book is considered to be the first work printed abroad by Caxton, and the first book printed in French. Purchased in 1844.

Caxton also printed No. 4, "The Game and Playe of the Chesse," which was translated in 1474, and printed, as Mr. Blades supposes, at Bruges about the year 1475.

About the year 1476, or early in 1477, Caxton came to England and settled down as a Printer, at Westminster, within the precincts of the Abbey. Here he printed the first book that ever issued from the Press in England, No. 5: "The dictes or Sayengis of the philosophhres enprynted by me William Caxton at Westmestre the yere of our lorde M.CCCC.LXXVII."

Attention is also particularly directed to the following Nos. in this Case :

9. St. Bonaventure. Speculum Vitae Christi. Second edition.— Printed by William Caxton about 1488. On vellum. The copy of the Doctrinal of Sapyence, 1489, in the Royal Library at