Moxon's mechanick exercises, volume 1 (of 2)

This certifies that four hundred and fifty copies only, all on hand-made Holland paper and printed from types, of this edition of Moxon’s “Mechanick Exercises,” in two volumes, were completed in August, 1896, and that the types have been distributed.
MOXON’S MECHANICK EXERCISES
The true Effigies of Laurenz Ians Kofter Delineated from his Monumentall Stone Statue, Erected at Harlem.
The true Effigies of Iohn Guttemberg Delineated from the Original Painting at Mentz in Germanie .
OR THE DOCTRINE OF HANDY-WORKS APPLIED TO THE ART OF PRINTING A LITERAL REPRINT IN TWO VOLUMES OF THE FIRST EDITION PUBLISHED IN THE YEAR 1683 WITH PREFACE AND NOTES BY THEO. L. DE VINNE VOLUME I
JOSEPH MOXON was born at Wakefield in Yorkshire, England, August 8, 1627. There is no published record of his parentage or his early education. His first business was that of a maker and vender of mathematical instruments, in which industry he earned a memorable reputation between the years 1659 and 1683. He was not content with this work, for he had leanings to other branches of the mechanic arts, and especially toward the designing of letters and the making of printing-types.
It is probable that the attention of Moxon was first drawn to type-founding by the founders themselves, who had to employ mechanics of skill for the making of their molds and other implements of type-casting. In this manner he could have obtained an insight into the mysteries of the art that had been carefully concealed. He did not learn type-making or printing in the usual routine. The records of the Company of Stationers do not show that he was ever made a freeman of that guild, yet he openly carried on the two distinct businesses of type-founding and printing after 1669. It is probable that he had a special permit from a higher authority, for in 1665 he had been appointed hydrographer to the king, and a good salary was given with the office. He was then devoted to the practical side of scientific pursuits, and was deferred to as a man of ability.