Chapter I.—Introductory.—Letter-press Printing the “Divine and Noble” Art—why so termed.—Freedom of the Press—where first proclaimed.—Printing known in China from time immemorial.—Method of Chinese Printing.—Bibliography and PalÆotypography.
Chapter II.—Date of the Origin of Typography in Europe.—Alleged Early Engravings.—Playing Cards.—Block-books.—Mr. F. Holt’s Hypothesis.—Evidence of Costume.—German “Brief-malers.”—Decree of Government of Venice.—State of Europe in the Middle Ages.—Cultivation of Classical Literature at the close of the Fourteenth and commencement of the Fifteenth Century.
Chapter III.—John Gutenberg.—First attempts at Typography in Strasburg.—Difficulties.—Invention of the Press.—Lawsuit.—Return to Mentz.—Connection with Faust.—Success.—Mazarin Bible the first Book printed from Separable Metal Types.—Second Lawsuit.—Forfeiture of Plant to Faust.—Peter Schoeffer.—Invention of Type-founding.—Faust and Schoeffer.—The Gutenberg “Printing-house.”—Gutenberg attached to the Court of the Elector of Mentz.—His Death.
Chapter IV.—The claims of Coster and Haarlem considered, as opposed to those of Gutenberg and Mentz.—Claims based upon Tradition.—No Contemporary Authorities in their favor.—Abundance of such testimony in favor of Gutenberg and Mentz.—Probable Origin of Tradition.—Block-books.—Speculum HumanÆ Salvationis.—Evidence of the Types: wood or metal; cut or cast?—Books “Jettez en molle.”—Age of the Paper.—Date of Costume.—Fraternity of Brethren and Clerks of the Common Life.
Chapter V.—The works of Faust and Schoeffer.—Legend of the Printer’s Devil.—Monuments in Germany to Gutenberg, Faust and Schoeffer.—Separable Letters first invented in China.—Characteristics of Ancient Printed Books.—The “Composing-stick” and “Setting-rule.”—Early Bindings.
