The devices of our early English printers are often void of significancy
early, or else mere quibbles. In that particular, Caxton set a
commendable example.
His device is "W.4.7C." The two figures, however, are interlaced, and
seem to admit of two interpretations. I must cite, on this question, the
famous triumvirate--Ames, Herbert, and Dibdin:
"The following mark [above described] I find put at the end of
many of his books, _perhaps_ for the date 1474, when he began
printing in England, or his sign."--Joseph AMES, 1749.
"The following mark [above described] I find put at the end of
many of his books, _perhaps_ for the date 1474, when he began
printing in England, or his sign."--William HERBERT, 1785.
"The figures in the large device [above described] form the
_reverse impression_ of 74; meaning, _as it has been stated_, that
our printer commenced business in England, in the year 1474: but
not much weight can be attached to this remark, as no copy of the
_Chess book_, printed in 1474, has yet been discovered which
presents us with this device."--T. F. DIBDIN, 1810.
In lieu of baseless conjectures, I have here to complain of timidity.
There is scarcely room for a doubt on the date. As dom de Vaines
observes, with regard to dates, "dans le bas age on supprimoit le
millieme et les centaines, commencant aux dixaines." There can be no
objection to the interpretation on that score. The main question
therefore is, in what order should we read the interlaced figures? Now,
the position of the _point_ proves that we should read 74--which is the
date of _The game and playe of the chesse_. The figures indicate 1474 as
clearly as the letters W. C. indicate William Caxton. What is the just
inference, must ever remain a matter of opinion.
In the woodcut of _Arsmetrique_, published in the _Myrrour of the
worlde_, A.D. 1481, I observe the figures 74 rather conspicuously
placed, and perhaps the device was then first adopted.