V.
(Tit. xviii, Sect. v. of the Laudian Statutes of the University, 1636, printed from Griffiths’ and Shadwell’s edition, Oxford, 1888; with ae for æ. It would appear that no Architypographus was appointed till 1658.)
De Typographis Universitatis.
Cum Sereniss. Rex Carolus eius nominis Primus, pro eo affectu quo Literas ac Literatos fovet, Privilegia Universitatis, quoad rem Typographicam nimis antehac arctata, mirum in modum amplificaverit; ne Clementiss. Regis indulgentia sordidi ac illiberales Artifices ad privatum suum quaestum abutantur: Statutum est, quod nullus Typographus in posterum his Privilegiis aut titulo Typographi Universitatis nostrae gaudebit, nisi qui in Admissione sua singulis Statutis et Ordinationibus circa regimen Typographorum, per Domum Convocationis factis, vel in posterum edendis, se submiserit.
Quoniam vero in re Typographica usu compertum est, Mechanicos hosce Artifices (lucri sui compendium cum dispendio operis plerumque sectantes) Calligraphiae seu Operis decori et elegantiae minime studere, sed opera quaeque rudia ac inemendata in publicam lucem extrudere; Idcirco praesenti Statuto cautum esto, quod publicae Universitatis Typographiae, instruendae in Domo aliqua huic usui specialiter deputata, praeficiatur Architypographus unus, Vir Graecis Latinisque literis probe instructus, et in studiis Philologicis versatissimus: Cuius munus erit, Operis Typographicis ibidem praeesse; materiam sive supellectilem typographicam (Chartam scilicet, Praela, Typos, et alia huius Opificii instrumenta) ut sint in suo quaeque genere lectissima providere. In Operibus e publica Universitatis Typographia prodeuntibus, Typorum modulum, Chartae qualitatem, Marginum mensuram praescribere; Correctorum errata emendare; et alia quaecunque, ad Operis ornatum et perfectionem spectantia, sedulo curare. Cui muneri quo alacrius et liberius vacet, (praeter certam portionem lucri e libris impressis provenientis, ipsi posthaec, pro ratione symbolae quam ad publicae Typographiae peculium seu sortem communem contulerit, assignandam ab iis qui a Domo Convocationis ad ordinanda Statuta Typographica delegandi erunt,) Officium superioris Bedelli in Iure Civili, (utpote reliquis minus negotiosum,) quandocunque primum quoquo modo vacaverit, perpetuo in posterum annectendum fore praesenti Statuto cautum esto.
APPENDIX E.
WOODCUT ORNAMENTS, TYPE, ETC.
A. Woodcut and Metal Ornaments. 1585–1640.
Of these there are two classes, the first large and used for the centre of titlepages or with conspicuous colophons (these I term Devices), the other smaller ornaments, used for borders, or to mark the beginning or end of a chapter, or generally for decorative purposes: these I call Woodcuts. The descriptions which follow are not intended to be fuller than is sufficient to distinguish the more important. The measurements (as always) are the least possible, and not the full size of the plate or block.
I. Devices.
Of these there are, in the period under review, fourteen:—
A. 311
16 × 2⅞ in. On a shield the arms of the University (with motto SAPiEN|TiAE: | ET. | FELi|CiTA|TiS. | ), within a border bearing ACADE=|MIA. | OXONI=|ENSIS. | At the corners are two females and two satyrs.
Used in 1585–93, 1597–1600, and at intervals till 1635, but not from 1625 to 1633.
B. 1⅞ × 1⅝ in. A metal engraving. In centre the arms of the University, with
| Sa Pi | et Fe, |
within a ribbon bearing ACADEMIA OXONIENSIS. Above and on each side and below are female figures with emblems and scrolls, and underneath all IOSEPH’ BARNESIUS.
Used only in 1591. (Barne and Tacitus.)
Ba. 115
16 × 1¾ in. A wood engraving from B, omitting Barnes’s name: the motto is
| SA PI | et F: |
and there are other small changes.
Used in 1627–8, 1630–33, 1635–7, 1640.
C. 1¼ × 15
16 in. An ornamental shield, with the arms of the University, the legend being
| SA PI ET | FE LI CI: |
at the sides AC: and OX. There is a defect (a short line omitted) on one shoulder, which serves to distinguish it from H.
Used at intervals from 1592 to 1638.
There is a counterfeit of this used in London printing of at least 1616 and 1624: see pp. [106], [120], and H, below.
D. 17
16 + in. squ. A nine-spoked wheel with two mottos “Omnia subiacent vicissitudini,” and “Sola virtus cadere non potest.”
Used in 1592–3, 1620, 1629.
E. 1¼ × 11
16 in. An ornamental shield with the Royal Arms, and at the sides E: and R.
Used in 1594.
F. 15
16 × 13
16 in. An ornamental shield with the arms of New College between two W s (William of Wykeham).
Used in 1598, 1605.
G. 1¾ in. squ. A circular watch-face, with “Donec dies est . Iohan: 9.4”, and figures: for John Day of Oriel.
Used in 1614–5, 1620.
H. 15
16 × 1⅜. Similar to C, but slightly larger. Perhaps a London counterfeit.
Used in 1616 and 1624.
I. 2¼ × 115
16 in. In centre the arms of the University on a white shield with
| SAP IEN TJA | FEL ICIT ATIS, |
and round it a band with ACADE|MIA. | OXONI=|ENSIS. At the corners are two winged figures, a rose and a thistle.
Used in 1628, and at intervals till 1637, by Turner only.
J. 2⅝ × 27
16 in. An Agnus Dei; beneath it “IOH : 1 : 26” and “ECCE AGN’ | DEI”, a text round it.
Used in 1628.
K. 17
16 × 1⅜. The arms of the University, with the motto
| SAP IENC TIA | .ET FELI CIT ATE, |
and round it ACADEMIA. | OXONIESIS, a cherub above.
Used in 1630–4, 1636–8, 1640: in and after 1634 the ATE is altered to ATIS.
L. 3½ × 2⅜ in. The arms of Great Britain and Ireland, crowned, with “C.”, “R.” at sides of crown.
Used in 1636.
M. 4½ × 3⅜. A Tree of Knowledge, boys plucking fruit, &c.
Used in 1636 (Lily’s Grammar).
II. Woodcuts.
These are 142 in number (not counting plain woodcut capitals), of which 32 were used by Barnes. Most of these passed on to his successors, who augmented them. In 1627 the two University printers printed separately, and John Lichfield took the larger number for himself, a few being used in common. It would be idle to print a complete list of these, but the writer has full notes of the occurrence of all that are found in each book. Twelve are alphabets, fifteen frames within which any capital could be placed, and four are arched borders.
B. Type.
The following table exhibits the use made of different type by Oxford printers 1585–1640, but applies only to the chief type of the body of the work. Thus Pica Greek is the chief type of a book in 1591 at earliest, but it is found occasionally in 1587, and Long Primer Greek in 1585. So too Great Primer Greek is used in 1624, 9. And Hebrew type is used sporadically from 1596 on (Long Primer, Pica and English, pointed and unpointed: see 1596, 8 & 9; 1601, 2; 1602, 3; &c.)
Oxford Type.
| 1585 | 1590 | 1595 | 1600 | 1605 | 1610 | 1615 | 1620 | 1625 | 1630 | 1635 | 1640 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| English: | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 1 | Long Primer | 2 | ½ | ½ | ½ | 1 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 2 | Pica | 2 | 6 | 1 | 2 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 4 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1½ | 2 | 1 | 1 | 1½ | 2½ | 2 | 2 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 3 | Great Primer | 1 | 1 | 3 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Roman: | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 4 | Minion | 1 | 4 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 5 | Brevier | ½ | 1 | 1 | 1 | 5 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 6 | Long Primer | 2 | 1 | 1 | ½ | 1 | 1 | 2 | ½ | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 1 | 2 | 1 | 2 | 1 | 2 | 1 | 5½ | 2 | 4½ | 1 | 6½ | 4 | 4 | 2 | 7½ | 3 | 7 | 3 | 6 | ||||||||||||||||||||
| 7 | Pica | 2 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 1 | 2½ | 1½ | 2 | 1 | 1 | 3 | 1 | 5½ | 5 | 2 | 3 | 5 | 6 | 3½ | 1 | 4 | 2 | 3 | 7½ | 7 | 6 | 1 | 2 | 4 | 4 | 1 | 3 | 2 | 5 | 2½ | 7 | 1 | 12½ | 6½ | 5 | 15½ | 3 | 4½ | 12 | 3 | 9½ | 10 | 5 | 4 | 14 | 7 | ||||||
| 8 | English | 1 | 2 | 1 | 1 | 7 | 3 | 1 | 8½ | 6 | 9 | 7 | 4 | 6 | 1 | 16 | 16 | 5 | 5 | 3 | 4 | 1 | 2 | 2 | 4 | 2 | 12 | 3 | 5 | 5 | 3 | 7 | 6 | 4 | 12 | 2 | 6 | 5 | 4 | 10 | 3 | 3 | 8 | |||||||||||||||
| 9 | Great Primer | ½ | 2 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1½ | 2 | 5 | 1 | 1 | 6 | 3 | 2 | 1 | 3 | 5 | 2½ | 9 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 10 | Double Pica | 1 | 10 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Italic: | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 11 | Long Primer | 1 | 1 | 11 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 12 | Pica | 2 | 3 | 1 | 1 | ½ | 2 | 2 | ½ | ½ | 1 | ½ | 1 | 12 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 13 | English | ½ | ½ | 13 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 14 | Great Primer | 1 | 14 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Greek: | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 15 | Long Primer | 1 | ½ | 15 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 16 | Pica | 1 | 1½ | 1 | 2 | 1 | 1 | 16 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| The above table has reference only to the chief type of the body of the book. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Number of books or pieces printed at Oxford | 7 | 16 | 9 | 7 | 5 | 5 | 7 | 11 | 7 | 7 | 4 | 8 | 11 | 6 | 7 | 5 | 3 | 12 | 11 | 10 | 13 | 8 | 10 | 17 | 7 | 7 | 2 | 24 | 26 | 17 | 16 | 6 | 9 | 7 | 8 | 5 | 6 | 9 | 5 | 8 | 24 | 9 | 14 | 22 | 19 | 14 | 32 | 9 | 34 | 21 | 16 | 18 | 24 | 23 | 20 | 26 | ||
| Average | 8 | 7 | 10 | 12 | 12 | 21 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
The ordinary size (now) of the type used in the Oxford Press from 1585 to 1640 is as follows, see p. [144] (1629, no. 4):—
| Name. | Lines in one foot. |
|---|---|
| Nonpareil | 144 |
| Minion | 120 |
| Brevier | about 110 |
| Long Primer | 90 |
| Pica | 72 |
| English | 64 |
| Great Primer | 51 |
| Double Pica (which is double “small Pica”) | 41 |
| Canon | 20 |
The old measures make the type of all these very slightly smaller than the above measurements.
C. Notanda.
It is curious to observe the small points which break the smooth course of ordinary printing in these earlier times, some of them marking progress, some a perturbation in the office, some stupidity. The following are random notes of some bibliographical interest.
1. The change of use in the case of u and v (Vniuersity being the old spelling, and University the new) may be remarked in progress in 1589, no. 5, and is practically completed by 1610. But a capital U is not found at all in the period dealt with, its place being in a few cases supplied by a large lower-case u.
2. For “at Oxford” the common Latin is Oxoniæ, but Oxonii occurs sporadically. Bellositi Dobunorum occurs in 1628: and Rhydychen (in Welsh books) in 1595, 1600.
3. In 1588 (no. 8) we first find an Oxford édition de luxe.
4. The state of the office is shown by 1595, no. 4 (small stock of type); 1601, no. 2 (Hebrew words sometimes transliterated, sometimes in Hebrew type: yet in 1603, no. 2, there is a complaint of the want of Hebrew type!); 1625, no. 16 (one sheet in different type); 1628, no. 16 (carelessness).
5. Red ink is found in 1479
80, 1628, 1631, 1633 and thereafter; and gold-printing in 1633.
6. Curiosities of workmanship will be found in 1629, no. 14; 1631, nos. 10, 17; 1633, nos. 26, 33; 1634, no. 9; 1635, no. 3; 1636, no. 15 (signatures); 1638, nos. 3, 17 (do.); 1640, no. 24: and eccentricity on the author’s part in 1631, no. 29; 1633, no. 9 (phonetic spelling); 1635, no. 10. In 1613 no. 29 (Rainolds) on the first two pages of each section the headline is “prophecy”, but on every other page it is “prophecie”. 1634 no. 17 (Statuta) is a true folio, in every sense in which the word is used.
7. The number of books or editions issued at Oxford is roughly as follows:—15th cent., 15: early 16th cent., 7: 1585–1600, 125: 1601–1620, 230: 1621–1640, 370: total, about 750. In the 17th cent. about 2700 were issued: in the 18th, about 2100: in the first three quarters of the 19th, about 6500. The number from “1468” to 1900 may be estimated as likely to be about 16000.
8. Of the Oxford books issued from “1468” to 1640, the British Museum contains less than 70 per cent., and the Bodleian about 80 per cent. The following calculation is not far from the truth:—
| Oxford books in Brit. Mus. and Bodl. | about | 450 |
| Oxford books in Brit. Mus. only | " | 50 |
| Oxford books in Bodl. only | " | 150 |
| Oxford books in neither library | " | 100 |
| Total | 750 |
APPENDIX F.
IMPRINTS.
Lists and Tables of Oxford Imprints, 1585–1640.
The following tables and lists explain themselves. They give a detailed picture of the mutual relations of Oxford and London printers and publishers, and the development of the Oxford book trade. It will be noticed how the archaisms (Imprinted at Oxford by, or At Oxford, printed by, &c.) are gradually worn off, with the rhetorical descriptions (such as celeberrimæ Academiæ typographus), and the use of colophons.
In some cases we find fictitious imprints, as in 1602, nos. 5, 11, 1611 (see impr. 7a), 1612 (impr. 7), 1613 (impr. 32), 1616 (impr. 35), 1626 (impr. 67). The number of books with no printer’s or publisher’s name is small (see impr. 107, and Appendix, p. 151 (Stanley)), and of books with no imprint at all there are very few instances, see 1586, 12; 1602, 8 and 9; 1603, 5; 1606, 5; 1622, 6; 1625, 9; 1635, 13.
In the list which follows the spelling is modernized, the form alone is exact.