Of these coins, chiefly from the British Museum, the South England iron currency bars are perhaps most interesting. Our reproduction of these is one-tenth actual size. It will be noticed that the handles and the sizes vary.
LARGER IMAGE
THE BEGINNING OF PRINTING: STRADANUS’S PRINTING OFFICE AT ANTWERP IN THE YEAR 1600
From a very rare engraving in the British Museum.
THE DEVELOPMENT OF PRINTING: THE LARGEST PRESS IN THE WORLD
How great has been the progress in the art of printing is seen from these two pictures. The modern Hoe printing press is a marvel of mechanism. The first editions of this History were printed on a similar machine.
Markets and Prices
Country becomes city; centres of population which rest upon an industrial basis arise; in many cases growth of the various manufacturing industries is furthered by unfavourable agricultural conditions. Such industrial centres require markets and market-places; it is necessary for the producers of raw materials to come to market from the country with their goods, in order that they may meet together with the craftsmen of the city, and with other producers from the country who offer their wares in turn. The market town is the point of departure for further culture. Here, too, the endeavour to harmonise individual incongruities exists. Fruit is sent to market; each man has his choice; an exchange value is determined by means of comparison, through analysis of the individual prices which themselves do not furnish any rational determination of worth, and therefore expose both buyer and seller to chance. Thus a market-price develops. The city is the living agency promoting industry and exchange; it brings its population into contact with the population of the country by means of the market, and prevents men from separating into isolated, unsympathetic, or even hostile groups.