[Illustration: _Bookseller_
_Published Feb^y. 20, 1818, by J. Harris, corner of S^t. Pauls._]
cried Theodore, with delight, as his eyes rested upon a parcel of books
neatly bound, which were placed on the next counter.
"I have no objection to your selecting one book a-piece," said his
father, "but you remember, Theodore, that I always make a point of
buying all your books at the corner of St. Paul's Church-yard. You may,
however, purchase a few of this person, who appears to have got a very
good selection."
"I had them, Sir, of Mr. Harris, in St. Paul's Church-yard," said the
woman. "He was so good as to choose for me what he thought would sell
best."
"Then you may look over them, my dears," said Mr. Durnford. "I suppose,
Caroline, that you know what paper is made from?"
"Of linen rags, papa, but I do not know how it is made."
"No, my love, neither can I explain it to you now, as the process is
too long. Theodore, can you inform me of the origin of printing."
"Coining, and taking impressions in wax, are of great antiquity," said
Theodore, "and the principle is precisely the same as that of printing.
The application of this principle to the multiplication of books,
constituted the discovery of the art of printing. The Chinese have for
many ages printed with blocks, or whole pages engraved on wood; but
the application of single letters or moveable types, forms the merit
and the superiority of the European art. The honour of giving rise
to this method, has been claimed by the cities of Harlem, Mentz, and
Strasburg; and to each of these it may be ascribed in some degree, as
printers resident in each, made improvements in the art."
"So far you are right, my dear boy," said his father, "it is recorded,
that one Laurentius, of Harlem, was the first inventor of the leaden
letters, which he afterwards changed for a mixture of tin and lead, as
a more solid and durable substance. We may suppose this to have been
about 1430. From this period, printing made a rapid progress in most of
the chief towns of Europe. In 1490 it reached Constantinople, and was
extended by the middle of the following century, to Africa and America.
It was for a long time believed that printing was introduced into
England, by one William Caxton, a mercer, and citizen of London, who
having resided many years in Holland, Flanders, and Germany, had made
himself master of the whole art, and set up a press in Westminster, in
1471. But a book has since been found, with a date of its impression at
Oxford, in 1468, and is considered as a proof that printing began in
that University before Caxton practised it in London. Emily, what have
you got there bound so handsomely in morocco?"
"Mrs. Chapone's Letters, papa, it is a present from mamma. And Maria
has got European Scenes, for Tarry at Home Travellers, a very pretty
book, full of engravings. And Caroline has chosen Keeper's Travels in
Search of his Master."
"Very well, my dear, and here is Sandford and Merton for our Theodore,
half-bound in Russia. This leather is now made use of in libraries,
because it preserves the books from the moth, the smell, perhaps, is
not so agreeable. Other books are bound in calves' skin, which is a
very pretty binding, and others are only half-bound, as it is called,
or in boards. Now, if you are suited, we will pass on to the