TRANSCRIBER’S NOTE
Italic text is denoted by _underscores_.
A superscript is denoted by ^x or ^{xx}, for example y^e or X^{mas}.
Basic fractions are displayed as ½ ⅓ ¼ etc; other fractions are
shown in the form a-b/c, for example 5/2 or 8-3/7.
Breves and macrons are accurately represented (ă ĕ ā ē etc). Many
other unusual characters are displayed using Unicode combining
diacriticals. The display software on the device may sometimes
fail to display a combined character.
The old long s character ſ is used exactly as in the original
text.
The latin ligatures ff fi fl ffi ffl are displayed as one Unicode
character. However older ligatures are displayed as separate
characters; these include ct, st, ſt, ſh, ſi, ſl, ſb, ſk, ſſ, fſ,
ſſi.
Footnotes are indicated by * † ‡ or § as in the original text,
and have not been moved from their position in the printed text.
Thirteen other footnote anchors are denoted by [number], as in
the original text, and those footnotes have also been left in
place at the end of their table or text section.
The tables in this book are best viewed using a monospace font.
Foreign alphabet characters in a table may alter the column
alignment.
The BIBLE ORTHOGRAPHY section has a very wide and very long
table, up to 90 characters in width, which may be truncated on
some older display devices.
The ALPHABET and BLACK LETTER sections have the Gothic characters
in tilde ~x~ markup since there are no Unicode codepoints for them. In
browsers and ereaders they can be displayed with an appropriate
choice of font that supports them. The DANISH and GERMAN and
SWEDISH sections also have ~x~ markup for these characters.
The IRISH section also has the Irish characters (insular script)
in tilde ~x~ markup since there are no Unicode codepoints for them.
(Browsers and ereaders can display them with an appropriate font.)
This book uses characters from many different alphabets.
Unicode codepoints are used whenever possible, but some printed
characters have no codepoint. These are represented in this etext
by [#] for a single character or dipthong and by [###] for a word
or phrase.
Some characters with valid codepoints may not display properly on
some handheld devices. Without proper rendering support, you may
see question marks, boxes, or other symbols.
All the Alphabet tables are displayed as an Illustration in
browsers and ereaders, as well as a text table.
Tables on p104 to p161 show the count of letters on a sheet.
The first table is displayed in full. Only the table header and
the first row of data is displayed in all subsequent tables.
The printed book had over three hundred of these tables on
fifty-eight pages.
Tables on p273 to p292. The first JOBS table is displayed in full.
Only the table header and the first row of data is displayed in
all subsequent tables. The printed book had twenty pages of these
tables.
Tables of Imposition on p335 to p400. Many of the numerical
signatures on a page were printed upside down in the original
book. This is indicated in this etext by putting the number in
brackets, for example [14] or [B2].
Tables on p598 to p643. The first table is displayed in full.
Only the table header and the first row of data is displayed in
all subsequent tables. The printed book had over one hundred of
these tables on forty-six pages.
Tables of signatures on p761 to p773. These tables are displayed
in full.
The citation _M._ refers to Joseph Moxon, a 17th-century
English printer.
Some other minor text changes are noted at the end of the book.
A
DICTIONARY
OF
THE ART OF PRINTING.
LONDON:
Printed by A. SPOTTISWOODE,
New-Street-Square.
A
DICTIONARY
OF
THE ART OF PRINTING.
BY WILLIAM SAVAGE,
AUTHOR OF
“PRACTICAL HINTS ON DECORATIVE PRINTING,”
AND OF A TREATISE
“ON THE PREPARATION OF PRINTING INK, BOTH BLACK AND COLOURED.”
LONDON:
LONGMAN, BROWN, GREEN, AND LONGMANS.
1841.
PREFACE.
Books of this class, themselves series of explanations, require fewer
prefatory remarks than those of any other; yet I cannot allow the
present work to go before the public without availing myself of this
privilege of authors. It affords me an opportunity of acknowledging,
which I do most gratefully, the kind and valuable assistance I have
received during my protracted labours, and of saying a few words on
the History of Printing, the limits of the book, the style of writing
adopted, and on the introduction of subjects that at a first glance
may appear to have but little or no connexion with the art.
I am indebted to Mr. Fehon, of Mr. Bentley’s establishment, Bangor
House, Shoe Lane, for the valuable article on Records, who is,
perhaps, more competent than any other printer in the kingdom for
such an undertaking; and also for his judicious opinions during the
progress of the work. Mr. Murray kindly prepared the specimens of
electrotype by his improved method, for which method he received a
premium from the Society of Arts. To Mr. Knight I am obliged for
permission to copy the list of botanical terms from his Encyclopædia.
From the letter founderies of Mr. Caslon, of Messrs. Figgins, and of
Messrs. Thorowgood and Besley, I have obtained the various alphabets,
&c., and am happy to acknowledge the courteous manner in which these
and other kindnesses were granted. To other friends who feel an
interest in the work, and have rendered me their services, I beg to
tender my sincere thanks. The books quoted are each mentioned with
every quotation, therefore there will be no necessity to recapitulate
them here; I may, however, state, that they are the works of standard
authors, as it has been my endeavour to refer to the opinions of men
whose talents and learning are generally acknowledged, rather than to
opinions perhaps more pertinent in works but little known.
The origin of the art is involved in obscurity, there being no clue
by which it can be traced, yet it is doubtless of very early date:
some authors maintain that printing was practised during the building
of Babylon. It is not my intention, however, to enter upon this
inquiry here, as it is probable, if my health continue, that I shall
embody the facts and information I have been so long collecting on
this subject in another work. The dates given of the introduction
of the practice into Europe by previous writers are unquestionably
erroneous, as we have conclusive evidence of its being followed as a
profession for nearly a century before the earliest date they give.
There has, in reality, hitherto been but little said on the History
or Practice of Printing, the numerous books on the subject being
chiefly copies from one or two of the earliest writers. The object
in the present undertaking was that of making a purely practical
work: one that might meet every exigence of the printer whilst in the
exercise of his art, and one that would serve as a book of reference
to the author, the librarian, and, in fact, to every one interested
in books or their production.
It will be observed that Moxon’s book has been frequently referred
to, and in many instances quoted from. This I was induced to do in
consequence of the quantity of useful matter it contains, and more
especially in order to point out and contrast the then method of
printing with the present. (Where the letter _M_ is used it refers
to this author.) The intermediate stages, where improvements or
alterations have occurred, are also noticed; so that the practical
history of the art is complete from the year 1683, when Moxon
published, to the present time.
The Statutes at Large I have carefully gone through from their
commencement; all the acts of parliament that in any way refer to
printing, and unrepealed, I have introduced: so that the Printer has
here all the Statute Law in existence for his guidance in conducting
his business.
The List of Abbreviations will be found extensive, and, I trust,
valuable, as until now there has been no printed list of many of
them. The interpretations have been obtained by comparing the
writings of contemporary authors, and by consulting those of my
friends who have made the early writers their study.
All the alphabets are taken from the best grammars in each language,
in preference to the more easy, but less correct method, of copying
the letters from any indifferent book printed in the characters of
the respective languages. I have confined myself to those languages
of which the characters are in the British founderies.
Whether my views are right or wrong respecting the orthography,
punctuation, and the capital letters of the Bible, rests with the
public to determine. I cannot consent to give an opinion in favour
of the changes that fashion, prejudice, or even the rules of grammar
have introduced, which are now adopted in general writing, until we
have another authorized version of the Bible, but think the more
literally we copy the present the better, otherwise the discrepancies
will soon be notorious.
The article on Imposing is of considerable length; yet I could not,
in justice to the work, curtail it: the tables might even have been
still more numerous, and yet serviceable, had the limits of the book
permitted; as it is, they are much more extensive than any tables
hitherto published. Men from the country having been but little used
to book-work, find themselves at a loss on entering a town-house in
this part of their business.
In printing topographical works, copies of early acts of parliament,
state papers of the middle ages, or books published soon after the
introduction of printing, when there were no general rules for either
writing or spelling, the list of characters and abbreviations under
the head of Records will be found invaluable. My kind friend Mr.
Fehon has spent many years of his life in investigating this subject,
and has here condensed most of what will be valuable to the Printer.
Electrotype, although quite in its infancy, promises to be of great
utility in the arts, and not the least so in that of printing. I have
therefore thought it right to give some account of it, together with
specimens, amongst which will be found an electrotype copy of a page
of types: it is imperfect, but I believe it is the first that has
been published.
No detailed account of the process of producing fine presswork has
before appeared. This circumstance I cannot otherwise explain than
by supposing it to arise from the jealous feeling that exists in the
bosoms of many of those who are masters of the practice. On speaking
to them of the value a detailed statement would be, I have been told
that there were already a sufficiency of men who knew it, and that
there was no necessity to deprive them of their advantages. Having
paid particular attention to this department, and having produced
works of this character that have been highly applauded, I have given
a detailed account of all the minutiæ of so valuable a branch of the
business.
Printing from engravings on wood is also a subject that has
particularly interested me, the practice of which I have given at
length: the result of my experience confirms the opinion that the
press is infinitely superior to the machine for this description of
work.
Having prepared the bulk of the matter prior to going to press, I
thought it might be safely stated that the whole would be comprised
in fourteen numbers. Yet, on revising, I found that some important
articles had not been touched upon, and that others perfectly new
(electrotype, &c.) had sprung up during the progress of printing; so
that either the book must have been left incomplete (had the first
arrangement been adhered to), or three more numbers must be added,
and thus every branch that pertained to the practice be embraced. I
trust none will regret that the latter plan has been adopted. With
regard to the style of writing--I am now an old man, and perhaps may
be, in some degree, wedded to the writings as well as the customs of
my youth; therefore the quaintness of expression, which my friends
have noticed, may possibly be more marked than I am aware of; yet the
manner is not wholly unintentional. To some persons simple language
may not have the attractions that are presented by the writings of
many authors of the present day, whose chief study is elegance of
expression; but do we not, by adopting this flowery style, lose in
clearness, in strength, in conciseness? Yes, and, I think, even in
beauty; and when it is considered that it was the intention to make
the book one of practical instruction, and that it was written with
the hope that it might be placed in the hands of each printer’s
boy on entering the business, I trust this sin of inelegance may
be pardoned. No one but the compiler of a dictionary can conceive
the unwearied labour that is requisite for its completion. Having
possessed greater opportunities than most men for the present
undertaking, yet have I been upwards of half a century in collecting
the materials; not, perhaps, having entertained the idea of
publishing during the whole of this period, still never neglecting
to amass every species of information that might be made available.
On going over such an extent of ground much has been culled that
would either never have been known to me, or, if known, would have
been forgotten, had the book been more hastily got up; and all those
subjects, a knowledge of which, at first, may appear irrelevant or
useless, will in practice be found highly necessary, there having
been no dictionary or book of reference kept in the printing offices
to which the workmen could apply. Should the work prove less useful
than I could wish it, the fault is in myself, and not in the subject;
but if on its perusal the young be instructed, the knowledge of the
more mature workman be refreshed and confirmed, and the general
reader find its utility as a book of reference, then have I nothing
to regret, but much to be grateful for. Lord Bacon says, “Every man
is a debtor to his profession, from the which, as men do of course
seek to receive countenance and profit, so ought they of duty to
endeavour themselves by way of amends to be a help thereunto.”
DICTIONARY
OF THE
ART OF PRINTING.
A.
“ABBREVIATIONS
are characters, or else marks on letters, to signify either a word
or syllable. & is the character for _and_, y^e is _the_ abbreviated,
y^t is _that_ abbreviated; and several other such. Straight strokes
over any of the vowels abbreviate m or n. They have been much used
by printers in old times, to shorten or get in matter; but now are
wholly left off as obsolete.”--_Moxon._ In reprints of old books,
where the original is closely followed, we occasionally meet with ɋ
as an abbreviation of _que_: this mark of contraction for _ue_ was
attached to the q, and was originally used solely for that purpose;
for the convenience of using the q without it, the abbreviation was
afterwards cast separate, and by degrees it was adopted as a point or
stop to divide a sentence, becoming the semicolon, the next in order
to the comma.
Some few authors yet retain the _;_ after a _q_, for the termination
_ue_, which appears to be the proper mark.
Abbreviations “occur very frequently, and are often the occasion
of perplexity to readers less familiarly acquainted with them, in
the early-printed books. These also originated from the idea which
the first Printers entertained of making their books as much as
possible resemble manuscripts. That they should perpetually occur
in manuscripts is natural enough; for the librarii, or writers
of manuscripts, necessarily had recourse to them to shorten
their labours. These abbreviations, in the infancy of Printing,
were perhaps to be excused; but it seems they multiplied to so
preposterous an extent that it was found necessary to publish a
book, both in the Gothic and Roman character, to explain their
meaning.”--_Beloe’s Anecdotes of Literature, &c._ _See_ DOMESDAY
BOOK. RECORDS. SIGLA.
A.--Aulus.
A. B.--Artium Baccalaureus. _Bachelor of Arts._
Abp.--Archbishop.
A. C.--Ante Christum. _Before the Birth of Christ._
A. C.--Arch-Chancellor.
A. D.--Anno Domini. _In the Year of our Lord._
A. D.--Ante Diem.
A. D.--Arch-Duke.
Adm.--Admiralty.
Adm. Co.--Admiralty Court.
Adm^{rs}. }--Administrators.
Adm^{ors}.}
A. H.--The Year of the Hegira.
A. M.--Artium Magister. _Master of Arts._
A. M.--Anno Mundi. _In the Year of the World._
A. M.--Ante Meridiem. _Before Noon._
An. A. C.--Anno ante Christum. _In the Year before Christ._
Ana.--Of each a like Quantity.
Anon.--Anonymous.
A. P. G.--Professor of Astronomy in Gresham College.
A. R.--Anno Regni. _In the Year of the Reign._
A. R. R.--Anno Regni Regis. _In the Year of the Reign of the King._
Ast. P. G.--Astronomy Professor in Gresham College.
A. T.--Arch-Treasurer.
A. U. C.--Ab Urbe condita. _From the building of the City._
Aug.--Augustus.
B.
B. et L. D.--Duke of Brunswick and Lüneburg.
B. A.--Artium Baccalaureus. _Bachelor of Arts._
Bart.--Baronet.
B. C.--Before Christ.
B. C. L.--Bachelor of Civil Law.
B. D.--Baccalaureus Divinitatis. _Bachelor of Divinity._
B. M.--Baccalaureus Medicinæ. _Bachelor of Medicine._
Bp.--Bishop.
B. R.--Banco Regis. _The King’s Bench._
Brit. Mus.--British Museum.
Bt.--Baronet.
B. V.--Blessed Virgin.
B. V.--Bene Vale. _Farewell._
C.
C.--Caius.
c.--Caput. _Chapter._
Cæs. Aug.--Cæsar Augustus.
Cal.--Calendis. _The first Day of the Month._
Cal. Rot. Pat.--Calendarium Rotulorum Patentium. _Calendar of the
Patent Rolls._
Cap.--Capitulum. _Chapter._
C. B.--Companion of the Bath.
C. C.--Caius College.
C. C. C.--Corpus Christi College.
ca. sa.--Capias ad satisfaciendum.
cf.--Confer. _Compare._
Chart. Max.--Large Paper.
Cic.--Cicero.
Civ.--Civitas.
C. J. C.--Caius Julius Cæsar.
Cl.--Clarus. _The celebrated._
Cl.--Claudius.
Cl. Dom. Com.--Clerk of the House of Commons.
Clk.--Clerk, a Clergyman.
Cn.--Cneius.
Coh.--Cohors.
Col.--Collega, Collegium.
C. O. S. S.--Consulibus. _To the Consuls_, or, _From the Consuls_,
or, _By the Consuls_, _Being Consuls_, or, _During the Consulate_.
C. P.--Common Pleas.
C. P. S.--Custos Privati Sigilli. _Keeper of the Privy Seal._
C. R.--Custos Rotulorum. _Keeper of the Rolls._
C. R.--Civis Romanus.
Cr.--Creditor.
C. S.--Custos Sigilli. _Keeper of the Seal._
D.
D.--Decimus.
D. B.; Domesd. B.--Domesday Book.
D. C.--Dean of Christ Church.
10^{ber}.--December.
D. C. L.--Doctor of Civil Law.
D. D.--Divinitatis Doctor. _Doctor in Divinity._
D. D.--Dono dedit. _Gave as a Present._
D. D. D.--Dat, Dicat, Dedicat. _He gives_, _he devotes_, _he makes
sure_, or, _consecrates_.
D. F.--Dean of Faculty (Scotland).
D. G.--Deo gratias. _Thanks to God._
D. G.--Dei gratiâ. _By the Grace of God._
Dict.--Dictator.
D. M. S.--Diis Manibus Sacrum. _Sacred to the Gods of the dead._
Dn.--Dominus.
Do.--Ditto. _The same._
D. O. M.--Deo Optimo Maximo. _To God the best, the greatest._
Dr.--Doctor.
Dr.--Debtor.
E.
E.--East.
Eccl.--Ecclesiastes.
Ecclus.--Ecclesiasticus.
e. g.--Exempli gratiâ. _As for example._
e. g.--Ex grege. _Among the rest_ (literally from the Flock).
Ep.--Epistola.
Eps.--Episcopus.
Erg.--Ergo.
Esq.--Esquire.
Et.--Etiam.
Eur.--Europa.
Exch.--Exchequer.
Ex. g. }--Exempli gratiâ. _As for example._
Ex. gr.}
Exon. D.--Exeter Domesday Book.
Exor.--Executor.
Ex S. C.--Ex Senatûs consulto.
Ex V.--Ex Voto.
F.
F. A. S.{--Fraternitatis Antiquariorum Socius.
F. S. A.{ _Fellow of the Society of Antiquaries._
F. D.--Fidei Defensor. _Defender of the Faith._
F. E. S.--Fellow of the Entomological Society.
F. G. S.--Fellow of the Geological Society.
F. H. S.--Fellow of the Horticultural Society.
Fi. B.--Fide bonâ.
Fid.--Fides.
fi. fa.--Fieri facias.
Fil.--Filius.
F. L. S.--Fraternitatis Linneanæ Socius. _Fellow of the Linnean
Society._
Fœd. N. E.--Rymer’s Fœdera, New Edition.
F. R. S.--Fraternitatis Regiæ Socius. _Fellow of the Royal Society._
F. R. S. E.--Fellow of the Royal Society, Edinburgh.
F. R. S. L.--Fellow of the Royal Society of Literature.
F. S. A. E.--Fellow of the Society of Antiquaries, Edinburgh.
G.
G. C. B.--Grand Cross of the Bath.
G. C. H.--Grand Cross of the Royal Hanoverian Guelphic Order.
G. R.--Georgius Rex. _George the King._
H.
h. e.--Hoc est. _That is_, or, _this is_.
Heb.--Hebrews.
Hel.--Helvetia.
Hhd.--Hogshead.
Hier.--Hierusalem. _Jerusalem._
H. J. S.--Hic jacet sepultus. _Here lies buried._
H. M.--His _or_ Her Majesty.
H. M. P.--Hoc Monumentum posuit. _Erected this Monument._
H. M. S.--His _or_ Her Majesty’s Ship.
H. R. I. P.--Hîc requiescit in Pace. _Here rests in Peace._
H. S.--Sestertius. _Two-pence._
I.
Ib. }--Ibidem. _In the same Place._
Ibid.}
Id.--Idem. _The same._
Id. E.--Idem est.
i. e.--Id est. _That is._
Ig.--Igitur.
I. H. S.--Jesus Hominum Salvator. _Jesus the Saviour of Man._
Imp.--Imperator. _Emperor._
Impp.--Imperatores, viz. de duobus.
Imppp.--Imperatores, viz. de tribus.
Incog.--Incognito. _Unknown._
Inq. p. m.--Inquisitio post Mortem.
I. N. R. I.--Jesus Nazarenus, Rex Judæorum. _Jesus of Nazareth, King
of the Jews._
Ins.--Instant. _Of this Month._
J.
J. C.--Juris consultus.
J. C.--Julius Cæsar.
J. D.--Jurum Doctor. _Doctor of Laws._
Jul.--Julius.
Jun.--Junius.
J. V. D.--Juris utriusque Doctor. _Doctor of Canon and Civil Law._
K.
K. Aug.--Kalendæ Augusti.
K. A. N.--Knight of Alexander Newski, Russia.
K. B.--Knight of the Bath.
K. B.--King’s Bench.
K. B. E.--Knight of the Black Eagle of Prussia.
K. C.--Knight of the Crescent of Turkey.
K. C.--King’s Counsel.
K. C. B.--Knight Commander of the Bath.
K. C. H.--Knight Commander of the Royal Hanoverian Guelphic Order.
K. C. S.--Knight of Charles III. of Spain.
K. G.--Knight of the Garter.
K. G. F.--Knight of the Golden Fleece, of Spain, or of Austria.
K. G. H.--Knight of Guelph of Hanover.
K. G. V.--Knight of Gustavus Vasa of Sweden.
K. H.--Knight of the Royal Hanoverian Guelphic Order.
K. L. A.--Knight of Leopold of Austria.
K. L. H.--Knight of the Legion of Honour.
K. M.--Knight of Malta.
K. Mess.--King’s Messenger.
K. M. T.--Knight of Maria Theresa of Austria.
K. N. S.--Knight of the Royal North Star of Sweden.
Knt.--Knight.
K. P.--Knight of Saint Patrick.
K. R. E.--Knight of the Red Eagle of Prussia.
K. S.--Knight of the Sword of Sweden.
K. S. A.--Knight of St. Anne of Russia.
K. S. E.--Knight of St. Esprit (or Holy Ghost) of France.
K. S. F.--Knight of St. Fernando of Spain.
K. S. F. M.--Knight of St. Ferdinand and Merit of Naples.
K. S. G.--Knight of St. George of Russia.
K. S. H.--Knight of St. Hubert of Bavaria.
K. S. J.--Knight of St. Januarius of Naples.
K. S. L.--Knight of the Sun and Lion of Persia.
K. S. M. & S. G.--Knight of St. Michael and St. George of the
Ionian Islands.
K. S. P.--Knight of St. Stanislaus of Poland.
K. S. S.--Knight of the Southern Star of the Brazils.
K. S. W.--Knight of St. Wladimir of Russia.
K. T.--Knight of the Thistle.
K. T. S.--Knight of the Tower and Sword of Portugal.
K. W.--Knight of William of the Netherlands.
L.
L.--Lucius.
lb.--Libra. _A Pound._
Ldp.--Lordship.
Leg.--Legatus. _Lieutenant-General._
Leg.--Legio. _Legion._
Lev.--Leviticus.
Lib.--Liber. _Book._
Lieut.--Lieutenant.
LL. B.--Legum Baccalaureus. _Bachelor of Laws._
LL. D.--Legum Doctor. _Doctor of the Canon and Civil Law._
LL. S.--Sestertius. _Two-pence._
L. N. E. S.--Ladies Negro Education Society.
L. P.--Large Paper.
Lp.--Lordship.
Lre.--[French] Lettre. _Letter._
L. S.--Loco Sigilli. _Place of the Seal._
L. s. d.--[French] Livres, Sous, Deniers. _Pounds, Shillings,
Pence._
M.
M.--Manipulus. _An Handful._
M.--Marcus.
M.--Monsieur.
M. A.--Master of Arts.
M. B.--Medicinæ Baccalaureus. _Bachelor in Medicine._
M. B.--Musicæ Baccalaureus. _Bachelor of Music._
M. D.--Medicinæ Doctor. _Doctor of Medicine._
Mens.--Mensis. _Month._
Mess^{rs}.--Messieurs. [French, the plural of Monsieur.]
_Gentlemen; Sirs._
Mil.--Miles. _A Soldier._
Mil.--Mille. _A Thousand._
M. M. S.--Moravian Missionary Society.
Mons^r.--Monsieur.
M. P.--Member of Parliament.
Mr.--Mister.
M. R. A. S.--Member of the Royal Asiatic Society.
M. R. I.--Member of the Royal Institution of Great Britain.
M. R. I. A.--Member of the Royal Irish Academy.
Mrs.--Mistress.
M. R. S. L.--Member of the Royal Society of Literature.
MS.--Manuscript.
M. S.--Memoriæ Sacrum. _Sacred to the Memory._
MSS.--Manuscripts.
M. T. C. }--Marcus Tullius Cicero.
M. Tul. Cic.}
Mus. D.--Doctor of Music.
M. W. S.--Member of the Wernerian Society.
N.
N.--North.
n.--Note.
N. B.--Nota bene. _Mark well._
Nem. Con.--Nemine Contradicente. _No Person opposing or
disagreeing._
Nem. Diss.--Nemine Dissentiente. _No Person opposing or
disagreeing._
Nep.--Nepos.
n. l.--Non liquet. _It appears not._
N. L.--North Latitude.
Nr.--Noster. _Our; our own._
N. S.--New Style.
N. T.--New Testament.
O.
Ob.--Obiit. _He or she died._
Ob.--Obolus. _Three Half-pence._
Oct.--October.
8vo.--Octavo.
O. S.--Old Style.
O. T.--Old Testament.
oz.--Ounce.
P.
P.--Publius.
p.--Page.
p.--Pugil. _What may be taken up, in compounding Medicine, between
the two Fingers and Thumb._
Pag.--Pagina. _A Page of a Book._
P. C.--Patres Conscripti. _Conscript Fathers; Senators._
Pent.--Pentecost.
Per Cent.--Per Centum. _By the Hundred._
Philom.--Philomathes. _A Lover of Learning._
Philomath.--Philomathematicus. _A Lover of the Mathematics._
P. M.--Post Meridiem. _Afternoon._
P. M. G.--Professor of Music at Gresham College.
Pon. M.--Pontifex Maximus.
P. P.--Pater Patriæ. _The Father of his Country._
P. P. C.--[French] Pour prendre congé. _To take Leave._
P. R.--Populus Romanus. _The Roman People._
Prof.--Professor.
P. R. S.--President of the Royal Society.
P. S.--Postscript. _After written._
P. S.--Privy Seal.
P. Th. G.--Professor of Divinity at Gresham College.
Pub.--Publicus.
Q.
Q.--Quintus.
Q.--Quadrans. _A Farthing._
q.--Quasi. _As it were; almost._
q.--Quære. _Inquire._
Q. C.--Queen’s College.
Q. C.--Queen’s Counsel.
q. d.--Quasi dicat. _As if he should say._
Q. E.--Quod est. _Which is._
Q. E. D.--Quod erat demonstrandum. _Which was the Thing to be
demonstrated._
q. l.--Quantum libet. _As much as you please._
Qm.--Quomodo. _How, by what means._
q. s.--Quantum sufficit. _A sufficient quantity._
Quæs.--Quæstor.
q. v.--Quantum vis. _As much as you will._
q. v.--Quod vide. _Which see._
4to.--Quarto.
Q^v.--Query.
R.
R.--Rex. _King._
R. A.--Royal Academician.
R. A.--Royal Artillery.
R. E.--Royal Engineers.
Reg.--Regi.
Resp.--Respublica. _Republic._
Rev.--Reverend.
R. M.--Royal Marines.
R. M.--Resident Magistrate.
R. N.--Royal Navy.
R. N. O.--Riddare af Nordstjerne. _Knight of the Order of the
Polar Star._
Ro.--Right-hand Page.
R. P.--Respublica. _Republic._
R. S. S. commonly F. R. S.--Regiæ Societatis Socius. _Fellow of
the Royal Society._
R. S. V. P.--[French] Réponse s’il vous plaît. _Answer if you
please._
Rt. Hon.--Right Honourable.
R. W. O.--Riddare af Wasa Orden. _Knight of the Order of Wasa._
S.
S.--Sacrum; Sepulcrum; Senatus.
S.--South.
S.--Uncia. _An Ounce._
Sax. Chron.--Saxon Chronicle.
S. C.--Senatûs Consultum. _The Decree of the Senate._
Scil.--Scilicet. _To wit._
Scip.--Scipio.
S. D.--Salutem dicit. _Sends Health._
S. L.--South Latitude.
S. L.--Solicitor at Law (in Scotland).
S. P.--Salutem Precatur. _He prays for his Prosperity._
S. P.--Sine prole. _Without issue._
S. P. D.--Salutem plurimam dicet. _He wishes much Health._
S. P. G.--Society for the Propagation of the Gospel.
S. P. Q. R.--Senatus Populusque Romanus. _The Senate and People
of Rome._
ss.--Semissis. _Half a Pound (six Ounces). The half of any Thing._
S. S. C.--Solicitor before the Supreme Courts (Scotland).
St.--Saint.
S. T. D.--Sacræ Theologiæ Doctor.
S. T. P.--Sacrosanctæ Theologiæ Professor. _Professor of Divinity._
S. V. B. E. E. Q. V.--Si vales, bene est; ego quoque valeo. _If you
are in good Health, it is well; I also am in good Health._
T.
T.--Titus.
Tab.--Tabularius.
Testa de N.--Testa de Nevill.
T. L.--Testamento legavit. _Bequeathed by Will._
Tr. Br. Mus.--Trustee of the British Museum.
T. R. E.--Tempore Regis Edwardi. _Time of King Edward._
T. R. M.--Tribunus militum. _A military Tribune._
U.
U. E. I. C.--United East India Company.
U. J. D.--Utriusque Juris Doctor. _Doctor of both Laws._
ult.--Ultimus. _The last._
U. S.--United States of America.
V.
v.--Vide. _See._
v.--Verse.
v.--Versus. _Against._
v.--(Sub) voce.
V. C.--Vir clarissimus. _A celebrated Man._
v. g.--Verbi gratiâ. _As for Example._
Vic.--Victores; Victor; Victoria.
viz.--Videlicet. _That is to say._
Vl.--Videlicet. _That is to say._
W.
W.--West.
W. M. S.--Wesleyan Missionary Society.
W. S.--Writer to His Majesty’s Signet.
X.
X^{mas}.--Christmas.
X^n.--Christian.
Xpofer.--Christopher.
Xps.--Christus.
X^t.--Christ.
Xtian.--Christian.
_See_ BOTANICAL AUTHORITIES. LAW AUTHORITIES. ORGANIC REMAINS. SIGLA.
ACCENTED LETTERS.
“In English, the accentual marks are chiefly used in spelling-books
and dictionaries, to mark the syllables which require a particular
stress of the voice in pronunciation.
“The stress is laid on long and short syllables indiscriminately.
In order to distinguish the one from the other, some writers of
dictionaries have placed the grave on the former, and the acute on
the latter, in this manner: ‘Mìnor, míneral, lìvely, líved, rìval,
ríver.’
“The proper mark to distinguish a long syllable is this ̄: as,
‘Rōsy:’ and a short one thus ̆: as ‘Fŏlly.’ This last mark is called
a breve.
“A diæresis, thus marked ¨, consists of two points placed over one of
the two vowels that would otherwise make a diphthong, and parts them
into two syllables: as, ‘Creätor, coädjutor, aërial.’
“A circumflex, thus marked ^, when placed over some vowel of a word,
denotes a long syllable: as, ‘Euphrâtes.’”--_Murray._
The c _à la queue_, or the c _with a tail_, is a French sort,
and sounds like _ss_, when it stands before _a o u_, as in _ça_,
_garçon_. To make a tail to a capital C, a small figure of 5 with
the top dash cut away, thus ⦢, and justified close to the bottom
of the letter, answers the purpose, when it is required; for the
letter-founders do not cast this letter with a tail, neither in the
capitals nor small capitals. Ç.
The ñ is used in the Spanish language, and is pronounced like a
double _n_, or rather like _ni_; but short and quick, as in España.
It is a sort which is used in the middle of words, but rarely at the
beginning.
In the Welsh language, ŵ and ŷ, as well as the other circumflex
letters, are used either to direct the pronunciation, as in
_yngŵydd_, in presence; _ynghŷd_, together; or else for distinction
sake; as, _mwg_, a mug; _mŵg_, smoke; _hyd_, to, until; _hŷd_, length.
ACCENTS. _See_ ACCENTED LETTERS.
ACTS OF PARLIAMENT.
There are various Acts of Parliament which affect printers, and
inflict penalties for the neglect or violation of their provisions.
Many printers frequently subject themselves to penalties, which are
in many instances very heavy, through ignorance of those laws. To
enable them to avoid these penalties, and also to show the legal
restrictions on the business, I have taken great pains to examine the
whole of the Statutes at Large, and to extract from them all such
clauses as are in force, that affect the trade.--See the respective
subjects.
ADMIRATION, Note of. _See_ PUNCTUATION.
ADVERTISEMENTS.
By the Act 3 & 4 Will. 4. c. 23. s. 1., intituled
“An Act to reduce the Stamp Duties on Advertisements and on
certain Sea Insurances; to repeal the Stamp Duties on Pamphlets,
and on Receipts for Sums under Five Pounds; and to exempt
Insurances on Farming Stock from Stamp Duties;” the Act 55 Geo.
3. c. 184.; the Act 55 Geo. 3. c. 185.; and the Act 56 Geo.
3. c. 56., for the Duties granted and payable in _Ireland_,
are repealed; “save and except so much and such Part and Parts
of the said Duties respectively as shall have accrued or been
incurred before or upon the said Fifth Day of _July_ One thousand
eight hundred and thirty-three, and shall then or at any Time
afterwards be or become due or payable and remain in arrear and
unpaid; all which said Duties so remaining in arrear and unpaid
as aforesaid shall be recoverable by the same Ways and Means, and
with such and the same Penalties, as if this Act had not been
made.
s. 2. “And be it enacted, That from and after the Fifth Day of
_July_ One thousand eight hundred and thirty-three, in lieu and
stead of the said several Duties upon Advertisements and Sea
Insurances by this Act repealed, there shall be granted, raised,
levied, collected, and paid, in _Great Britain_ and _Ireland_
respectively, unto and for the Use of His Majesty, His Heirs
and Successors, for and in respect of the several Articles,
Matters, and Things mentioned and described in the Schedule to
this Act annexed, the several Duties or Sums of Money set down
in Figures against the same respectively, or otherwise specified
and set forth in the said Schedule; and that the said Schedule,
and the several Provisions, Regulations, and Directions therein
contained, with respect to the said Duties, and the Articles,
Matters, and Things charged therewith, shall be deemed and
taken to be Part of this Act; and that the said Duties shall be
denominated and deemed to be Stamp Duties, and shall be under the
Care and Management of the Commissioners of Stamps for the Time
being for the United Kingdom of _Great Britain_ and _Ireland_.
s. 3. “And in order to provide for the Collection of the Duty by
this Act granted on Advertisements contained in or published
with any Pamphlet, Literary Work, or Periodical Paper, be it
enacted, That one printed Copy of every Pamphlet or Literary
Work or Periodical Paper (not being a Newspaper), containing or
having published therewith any Advertisements or Advertisement
liable to Stamp Duty, which shall be published within the Cities
of _London_, _Edinburgh_, or _Dublin_ respectively, or within
Twenty Miles thereof respectively, shall, within the Space of Six
Days next after the Publication thereof, be brought, together
with all Advertisements printed therein, or published or intended
to be published therewith, to the Head Office for Stamps in
_Westminster_, _Edinburgh_, or _Dublin_ nearest to which such
Pamphlet, Literary Work, or Periodical Paper shall have been
published, and the Title thereof, and the Christian Name and
Surname of the Printer and Publisher thereof, with the Number
of Advertisements contained therein or published therewith; and
any Stamp Duty by Law payable in respect of such Advertisements
shall be registered in a Book to be kept at such Office, and the
Duty on such Advertisements shall be there paid to the Receiver
General of Stamp Duties for the Time being, or his Deputy or
Clerk, or the proper authorized Officer, who shall thereupon
forthwith give a Receipt for the same; and one printed Copy
of every such Pamphlet, Literary Work, or Paper as aforesaid,
which shall be published in any Place in the United Kingdom, not
being within the Cities of _London_, _Edinburgh_, or _Dublin_,
or within Twenty Miles thereof respectively, shall, within the
Space of Ten Days next after the Publication thereof, be brought,
together with all such Advertisements as aforesaid, to the Head
Distributor of Stamps for the Time being within the District in
which such Pamphlet, Literary Work, or Paper shall be published;
and such Distributor is hereby required forthwith to register the
same in manner aforesaid in a Book to be by him kept for that
Purpose; and the Duty payable in respect of such Advertisements
shall be thereupon paid to such Distributor, who shall give a
Receipt for the same; and if the Duty which shall be by Law
payable in respect of any such Advertisements as aforesaid shall
not be duly paid within the respective Times and in the Manner
herein-before limited and appointed for that Purpose, the Printer
and Publisher of such Pamphlet, Literary Work, or Paper, and the
Publisher of any such Advertisements, shall respectively forfeit
and pay the Sum of Twenty Pounds for every such Offence; and in
any Action, Information, or other Proceeding for the Recovery
of such Penalty, or for the Recovery of the Duty on any such
Advertisements, Proof of the Payment of the said Duty shall lie
upon the Defendant.
s. 4. “And be it enacted, That all the Powers, Provisions,
Clauses, Regulations, and Directions, Fines, Forfeitures, Pains,
and Penalties, contained in or imposed by the several Acts of
Parliament relating to the Duties on Advertisements and Sea
Insurances respectively, and the several Acts of Parliament
relating to any prior Duties of the same Kind or Description,
in _Great Britain_ and _Ireland_ respectively, shall be of full
Force and Effect with respect to the Duties by this Act granted,
and to the Vellum, Parchment, Paper, Articles, Matters, and
Things charged or chargeable therewith, and to the Persons liable
to the Payment of the said Duties, so far as the same are or
shall be applicable in all Cases not hereby expressly provided
for, and shall be observed, applied, enforced, and put in
execution for the raising, levying, collecting, and securing of
the said Duties hereby granted, and otherwise relating thereto,
so far as the same shall not be superseded by and shall be
consistent with the express Provisions of this Act, as fully and
effectually to all Intents and Purposes as if the same had been
herein repeated and especially enacted with reference to the said
Duties by this Act granted.”
THE SCHEDULE.
Advertisements:--
For and in respect of every Advertisement contained in or published
with any Gazette or other Newspaper, or contained in or published
with any other Periodical Paper, or in or with any Pamphlet or
Literary Work,
Duty.
Where the same shall be printed and published £ _s. d._
in Great Britain 0 1 6
And where the same shall be printed and published
in Ireland 0 1 0
[So much of this Act repealed by 6 & 7 Will. 4. c. 76. s. 32.
“as provides the Mode of collecting the Duty on Advertisements
contained in or published with any Pamphlet, Periodical Paper, or
Literary Work.”]
ALBION PRESS. _See_ COPE’S PRESS.
ALGEBRAIC CHARACTERS.
+ is the sign of addition; as _c_ + _d_ denotes that _d_ is to be
added to _c_.
- is the sign of subtraction; thus, _c_ - _d_ implies that _d_ is to
be subtracted from _c_.
× is the sign of multiplication; as _c_ × _d_ means the product of
_c_ and _d_.
÷ is the sign of division; as _c_ ÷ _d_ signifies the quotient of _c_
and _d_.
= is the sign of equality; thus _c_ + _d_ = _e_ means the sum of _c_
and _d_ equals _e_.
√ is the sign of the square root; thus √_x_ denotes the square root
of _x_.
∛ is the sign of the cube root, and generally any root of a quantity
may be denoted by this sign, with the index of the root placed over
it; thus ∛_x_ signifies the cube root, ∜_x_ the biquadrate root, &c.;
but they may likewise be represented by the reciprocals of these
indices; as _x_^½, _x_^⅓, implying the square and cube roots of _x_.
A vinculum is a line drawn over several quantities, and means that
__________
they are taken together, as √_ax_ + _b_ signifies the
square root of _ax_ and _b_.--_Phillips’s Compendium of
Algebra._ 12mo. 1824.
ALMANACK. _See_ NAUTICAL ALMANACK.
ALPHABET.
A perfect alphabet of the English language, and, indeed, of every
other language, would contain a number of letters, precisely equal
to the number of simple articulate sounds belonging to the language.
Every simple sound would have its distinct character; and that
character be the representative of no other sound. But this is far
from being the state of the English alphabet. It has more original
sounds than distinct significant letters; and, consequently, some of
these letters are made to represent, not one sound alone, but several
sounds. This will appear by reflecting, that the sounds signified
by the united letters _th_, _sh_, _ng_, are elementary, and have
no single appropriate characters, in our alphabet; and the letters
_a_ and _u_ represent the different sounds heard in _hat_, _hate_,
_hall_; and _but_, _bull_, _mute_.
The letters of the English language, called the English Alphabet, are
twenty-six in number.--_Murray._
The following is a list of the Roman, Italic, and Old English
Characters, being those used at the present day in England. The Roman
and Italic are also used by most of the European nations.
[Illustration: English Alphabet with Old English characters]
A a _A_ _a_ ~A a~ _ai_.
B b _B_ _b_ ~B b~ _bee_.
C c _C_ _c_ ~C c~ _see_.
D d _D_ _d_ ~D d~ _dee_.
E e _E_ _e_ ~E e~ _ee_.
F f _F_ _f_ ~F f~ _ef_.
G g _G_ _g_ ~G g~ _jee_.
H h _H_ _h_ ~H h~ _haitch_.
I i _I_ _i_ ~I i~ _i_ or _eye_.
J j _J_ _j_ ~J j~ _jay_.
K k _K_ _k_ ~K k~ _kay_.
L l _L_ _l_ ~L l~ _el_.
M m _M_ _m_ ~M m~ _em_.
N n _N_ _n_ ~N n~ _en_.
O o _O_ _o_ ~O o~ _o_.
P p _P_ _p_ ~P p~ _pee_.
Q q _Q_ _q_ ~Q q~ _cue_.
R r _R_ _r_ ~R r~ _ar_.
S s _S_ _s_ ~S s~ _ess_.
T t _T_ _t_ ~T t~ _tee_.
U u _U_ _u_ ~U u~ _u_ or _you_.
V v _V_ _v_ ~V v~ _vee_.
W w _W_ _w_ ~W w~ _double u_.
X x _X_ _x_ ~X x~ _eks_.
Y y _Y_ _y_ ~Y y~ _wy_.
Z z _Z_ _z_ ~Z z~ _zed_.
For the characters of the different languages, _see_ their respective
names, ARABIC, &c.
Tacquet, an able mathematician, in his Arithmeticiæ Theor., _Amst._
1704, states, that the various combinations of the twenty-four
letters (without any repetition) will amount to
620,448,401,733,239,439,360,000.
Thus it is evident, that twenty-four letters will admit of an
infinity of combinations and arrangements, sufficient to represent
not only all the conceptions of the mind, but all words in all
languages whatever.
Clavius the Jesuit, who also computes these combinations, makes them
to be only 5,852,616,738,497,664,000.
As there are more sounds in some languages than in others, it follows
of course that the number of elementary characters, or letters,
must vary in the alphabets of different languages. The Hebrew,
Samaritan, and Syriac alphabets, have twenty-two letters; the Arabic,
twenty-eight; the Persic, and Egyptian or Coptic, thirty-two; the
present Russian, forty-one; the Shanscrit, fifty; the Cashmirian and
Malabaric are still more numerous.--_Astle._
ALTERATION OF MARGIN.
In works that are published in different sizes, this is the changing
of the margin from the small paper to the large paper edition, when
at press.
After the margin for the small paper copies is finally made, the
additional width of the gutters, the backs, and the heads, is
ascertained in the same manner, by folding a sheet of the large
paper, that it was in the first instance. The additional pieces for
the change should, if possible, be in one piece for each part. _See_
MARGIN.
Folios, quartos, and octavos, are the sizes most usually printed with
an alteration of margin; duodecimos are sometimes, but rarely; of
smaller sizes I never knew an instance.
The alteration of margin requires care, for it occasionally happens
that the sheet is imposed with the wrong furniture; and where it
happens to be in one form only, and that form is first laid on, it
sometimes passes undiscovered till a revise of the second form is
pulled, when the error is detected, but too late to rectify it; the
consequence must be, to cancel a part of the sheet, or to print the
reiteration with the margin also wrong; nay, sometimes both forms
are worked off with the furniture wrong, without being perceived
till the compositor comes to distribute, particularly when they are
printed at different presses. Such errors destroy the uniformity of
the book, and spoil its appearance.
These mistakes can only be avoided by care and attention on the
part of the compositor, the reader, and the pressman; but I would
recommend that the furniture for the alteration should be cut of
different lengths from the furniture of the small paper: in octavos
the gutters and backs should be the exact length of the page, and be
always imposed within the sidestick; and the head should be the width
of the two pages and the gutter, and be imposed within the footstick.
This method of cutting the furniture of precise lengths for the
alteration, and locking it up within the side and foot sticks, will
not only distinguish it from the rest of the furniture, and from
the pieces that may be put in for the convenience of quoining the
form, but will also preserve it from being injured by the mallet and
shooting stick, in locking up, and by the indention of the quoins.
The same principle, of cutting the alteration to precise lengths, and
locking it up within the side and foot sticks, will hold good in all
other sizes, where it is required: in quartos, the pieces must be cut
to the length and width of the page; and in folios to the length of
the page only, as the margin of the head is regulated at the press.
ANCIENT CUSTOMS.
The following Customs used in Printing Offices in former times are
extracted from Moxon’s Mechanick Exercises, published in 1683, the
first practical work that appeared on the Art of Printing. I insert
them because I think it interesting to trace the old Customs, that
were established by printers to preserve Order among themselves;
and to show the changes that have taken place since that period. The
insertion of them in this place will also tend to preserve them, as
the original work is now very scarce, and this department of it has
been superseded by subsequent publications, which however, with the
exception of Mr. Hansard’s work, have not copied these Customs.
“_Ancient Customs used in a Printing-house._
“Every _Printing-house_ is by the Custom of Time out of mind,
called a _Chappel_; and all the Workmen that belong to it are
_Members of the Chappel_: and the Oldest Freeman is _Father of
the Chappel_. I suppose the stile was originally conferred upon
it by the courtesie of some great Churchman, or men, (doubtless
when Chappels were in more veneration than of late years they
have been here in _England_) who for the Books of Divinity that
proceeded from a _Printing-house_, gave it the Reverend Title of
_Chappel_.
“There have been formerly Customs and By-Laws made and intended
for the well and good Government of the _Chappel_, and for the
more Civil and orderly deportment of all its Members while in the
_Chappel_; and the Penalty for the breach of any of these Laws
and Customs is in Printers Language called a _Solace_.
“And the Judges of these _Solaces_, and other Controversies
relating to the _Chappel_ or any of its Members, was plurality of
Votes in the _Chappel_. It being asserted as a Maxim, _That the
Chappel cannot Err_. But when any Controversie is thus decided,
it always ends in the Good of the _Chappel_.
“1. Swearing in the _Chappel_, a _Solace_.
“2. Fighting in the _Chappel_, a _Solace_.
“3. Abusive Language, or giving the Ly in the _Chappel_, a
_Solace_.
“4. To be Drunk in the _Chappel_, a _Solace_.
“5. For any of the Workmen to leave his Candle burning at Night,
a _Solace_.
“6. If the _Compositer_ let fall his _Composing-stick_, and
another take it up, a _Solace_.
“7. Three _Letters_ and a _Space_ to lye under the _Compositers
Case_, a _Solace_.
“8. If a _Press-man_ let fall his _Ball_ or _Balls_, and another
take it up, a _Solace_.
“9. If a _Press-man_ leave his _Blankets_ in the _Tympan_ at Noon
or Night, a _Solace_.
“These _Solaces_ were to be bought off, for the good of the
_Chappel_: Nor were the price of these _Solaces_ alike: For some
were 12_d._ 6_d._ 4_d._ 2_d._ 1_d._ _ob._ according to the nature
and quality of the _Solace_.
“But if the Delinquent prov’d Obstinate or Refractory, and
would not pay his _Solace_ at the Price of the _Chappel_, they
_Solac’d_ him.
“The manner of _Solacing_, thus.
“The Workmen take him by force, and lay him on his Belly athwart
the _Correcting-stone_, and held him there while another of the
Work-men with a Paper-board, gave him 10_l._ _and a Purse_, viz.
Eleven blows on his Buttocks; which he laid on according to his
own mercy. For Tradition tells us, that about 50 years ago one
was _Solaced_ with so much violence, that he presently P----d
Blood; and shortly after dyed of it.
“These nine _Solaces_ were all the _Solaces_ usually and
generally accepted: yet in some particular _Chappels_ the
Work-men did by consent make other _Solaces_, viz.