[Μ] 51. Scriptorial in Grover’s Foundry, 1700. (From the original matrices.)

[Μ] 52. Court Hand in Grover’s Foundry, 1700. (From the Catalogue of James’s Foundry, 1782, p. 16.)

[Μ] 53. Union Pearl in Grover’s Foundry, 1700. (From the original matrices.)

It may be added that the letters of this fount (like those of the old Greek, Court Hand, Scriptorial and Union Pearl in the same foundry) are struck inverted in the copper[387]; a peculiarity which may be due either to their foreign execution, or to the ignorance of the English striker, and which, in either case, goes far to account for the confusion which existed respecting their identity.

Unfortunately, the link which might definitely connect these Alexandrian matrices with the facsimile types of Patrick Young is, in the absence of any copy of the specimen chapter of Genesis of 1643, wanting. But, apart even {205} from this, the fount undoubtedly claims the distinction of being the first attempt at facsimile by means of type[388]; on which account this somewhat lengthy note as to its history will, perhaps, be pardoned.

Thomas Grover had several daughters, one of whom, Cassandra, was the wife of Mr. Meres[389]; and Mr. Meres’ daughter Elizabeth was the wife of Mr. Richard Nutt.[390] On Thomas Grover’s death[391] his foundry became the joint property of all his daughters, who attempted to dispose of it by private contract in 1728, when it was appraised by Thomas James and William Caslon. Mr. Caslon actually made an offer for its purchase, but at so low a figure that it was not accepted. The foundry therefore remained locked up in the house of Mr. Nutt, who appears to have been a printer, and to have provided himself with type for his own use during his tenure of the matrices. Finally, on the death of all Grover’s daughters, the foundry became Mr. Nutt’s absolutely, and was by him sold on the 14th September 1758 to John James.