The first work printed in England was “The Recueil of The Historeys of Troye,” of which Caxton thus speaks:—“Thus end I this book, &c., and for as moche as in wrytyng of the same my penne is worn, myne hande wery, and myne eyen dimmed, with overmoche lokyng on the whit paper—and that age crepeth on me dayly—and also because I have promised to dyverce gentilmen and to my frendes to adresse to them as hastely as I myght this said book, therefore I have practysed and learned at my grete charge and dispense to ordayne this sayd book in prynte after the manner and forme as ye may here see, and is not wreten with penne and ynke, as other bokes ben, to thende that every man may have them att ones; for all the books of this storye named the Recule of the Historyes of Troyes thus emprynted as ye here see were begonne in oon day and also finished in oon day,” &c. In another place he enumerates the works he had printed thus:—“When I had accomplished dyvers workys and historyes translated out of Frenshe into Englyshe, at the requeste of certayn lords, ladyes, and gentylmen, as the Recule of the Historyes of Troye, the Boke of Chesse, the Historye of Jason, the Historye of the Mirrour of the World, I have submysed myself to translate into English, the Legende of Sayntes, called Legenda Aurea in Latyn—and Wylyam Erle of Arondel desyred me—and promysed to take a resonyble quantyte of them—sente to me a worshipful gentylman—promising that my sayd lord should during my lyf give and grant to me a yearly fee, that is to note a bucke in sommer, and a doo in wynter,” &c.
It appears that Caxton continued his employment at Westminster, with considerable success, until his death, which occurred in 1491. He seems to have been extensively patronised, and to have been a person of great moral worth. He is supposed to have lived to beyond the age of eighty.
Wynkyn de Worde, who was an assistant, and afterwards succeeded Caxton, was a foreigner, born in the dukedom of Lorrain. He made great improvements, especially in the form of his types. Most of his books now remaining, were printed in Fleet Street, in St. Bride’s Parish, at the sign of the Sun. He died in 1534.
Richard Pynson, who had been brought up under Caxton, set up a Press at Temple Bar, and was the first who obtained the patent of King’s Printer; he died in 1529.
After this, Printing was practised very generally, not only in London, but in many other places, especially Oxford and Cambridge, both which Universities obtained the exclusive right, which they still retain, of Printing all Bibles and Prayer Books; that is, with the exception of the person holding the patent of King’s Printer, who also has this right.
The principle of moveable Types having been once introduced, little room was left for improvement, beyond the slight variations in the form of the Letters, which, as a matter of taste, would always be liable to fluctuate: a comparison of works, printed at different periods, will exemplify this.
An experiment was made some years since, in Logographic, or Word Printing; the Words of most frequent occurrence being cast together, instead of setting them up in single Letters; but it does not appear to have succeeded, or to have been generally adopted, though a Volume, at least, was printed on this plan, which the Publishers of this little work happen to have in their possession.
In the improvement of the Printing Press, and the manufacture of Printing Ink, a larger sphere was opened, inasmuch as to the advancement of these, Printing must be ever indebted for its degrees of excellence.
Printing Ink is a sort of Black Varnish, the making of which is still a secret in the hands of the manufacturers, so far as its finer qualities are concerned.
Its requisites are, that it should have a sufficient, and not too great a degree of tenacity; that it should produce a perfectly black impression, and that it should dry quickly: in proportion as the Ink is deficient in these qualities, it will be liable to injure the paper, or produce specks, to surround the printing with a yellow hue, from the too great preponderance of the oily ingredients; or to soil the paper during the subsequent processes. The excellence of the Printing of Baskerville was chiefly attributable to his discoveries in the art of Ink Making. The late Mr. Bulmer, also, who printed some of the most splendid works of the last half century, was very successful in his experiments. The manufacture is now in the hands of several persons, who are eminent in this art, and who have made it a distinct branch of business.