Illuminated manuscripts in classical and mediaeval times, their art and their technique

by J. H. Middleton

Earliest English paper.

Earliest English paper.All Caxton's books are printed on foreign paper, and the first book printed on paper which was made in England was Wynkyn de Worde's Bartholomaeus, De proprietatibus rerum, printed about the year 1495, four years after Caxton's death, with the following interesting colophon, which alludes to the first paper manufactory in England, set up by John Tate at Hertford.

This colophon, which does not do credit to Wynkyn de Worde's literary style, runs thus:

And also of your charyte call to remembraunce

The soule of William Caxton first prynter of this boke

In laten tongue at Coleyn hymself to auance

That every wel disyosyd man may theron loke

And John Tate the yonger joye mote he broke

Whiche late hathe in Englond doo make this paper thynne

That now in our englyssh this boke is prynted inne.