[33] Meerman, and a few other writers, make mention of two John Gutenbergs, brothers, both of whom are spoken of as inventors of Typography; the elder, known as John Gansfleisch, dying, so it is stated, in 1462. The reason of this seems to be, that some one was wanted to fill the position of the thief, who, according to the tale of Junius, stole from Janssoen, the Coster of Haarlem, the moveable types he had recently invented. As John Gutenberg, junior, could not be fixed upon, and there was no other method of bringing discredit upon his claim, and as the alleged thief was a John somebody, John Gansfleisch, senior, assumed to be elder brother to John junior, was thought of; and from him, it is asserted, the younger brother obtained his knowledge of the art of printing. The authority on which Meerman relied appears to be a document first published by Köhler (Ehrenrettung Guttenberg’s), in which it is stated, that in 1443 John Gansfleisch the elder hired a house at Mentz, his birthplace. Santander says, the phrase was used because John Gutenberg’s uncle having died about this time, he had in reality become the elder. Later writers agree with Santander that the elder Gansfleisch here referred to was an uncle to Gutenberg junior, but they do not admit his death at this time. Being named after him, he was probably his godfather, and may have been living with him in Strasburg in 1443. It was to his house that Gutenberg junior went, on his return to Mentz.
[34] “To the worthy nun Bertha, in the Convent of St. Clair, at Mentz, health and fraternal good wishes. My dear sister, with respect to what you say of the rents and money which were left to you by our brother Conrad, whom God bless, by his last will; that often and for a long time past, they have not been paid to you, and that they are still owing to you, and amount as you say to a considerable sum; I have to inform you, that, upon giving a receipt, you may receive the sum of twenty florins (of gold) out of my rents and revenues, coming as you know, from Mentz, and other places; by applying to Joh. Dringelter, the wax chandler; Veronica Mystersen, at Seilhoven; or at Mentz, and various other places, of which Pedirman can inform you; as at Lorzwiller, Bodenheim, and Murminheym. I purpose, if it please God, to have the pleasure of seeing you before long, and to arrange the matter with Pedirman, so that your property may be promptly delivered to you, according to the terms and intention of the will. I await your answer upon this subject. Given at Strasburg; feriâ quintâ post dominicam (the 24th March) M.CCCC.XX.IIII.”
(Signed) “Henne Gensfleisch, called Sulgeloch.”
—Santander, from Oberlin’s “Essai d’Annales de la Vie de J. Gutenberg,” pp. 3, 4.
[35] Linseed oil, rosins, shellac, pitch, mundick, varnishes, nutgalls, turpentine, and vitriol, were made use of by the early printers in manufacturing their ink. In applying it, a small quantity was first taken up on a pair of balls or dabbers made of sheepskins padded with wool; these were then well beaten together until finely and evenly covered, after which they were beaten on the types until the pages were considered sufficiently inked.
[36] Typographia: An Historical sketch of the Origin and Progress of the Art of Printing. By T. C. Hansard, 1825. 8vo. 1000 pp.
[37] The Press: a Poem; by John M‘Creery. The original edition, printed by the author, was beautifully illustrated with wood engravings by Mr. Hole, a pupil of the Bewicks. Mr. M‘Creery’s establishment was celebrated for the excellence of its printing.
[38] “Life and Typography of William Caxton.” vol. ii. p. xlv.
[39] “Inquiry concerning the Invention of Printing.” p. 254.
[40] These occur in what is known as the fourth edition, of which only three copies exist, two in Haarlem, and one in Lille. It is in the copy at Lille that a leaf is printed on both sides. Mr. Humphreys, in his noble work,—the greatest boon ever conferred in any age or country on students of early Typography,—says, (p. 63) this leaf has “an appearance of being printed on both sides, from the existence of a strong set off.” But if the lines of the supposed ‘set-off’ read in the usual way, they must have been set-off from a set-off, or the impression would appear reversed. Most probably the back of the original impression was printed on by an accidental oversight.