Reflecting on the extreme rarity of the works which issued from the
press of Caxton, the question arises, What number of copies was he
accustomed to print? On that point, as it seems, we have only
conjectures.
Maittaire assumes that the number was about 200; an opinion which I
shall not controvert. Dibdin, however, inclines to think, with regard to
_The golden legend_ and other works of the same class, "that at least
400 copies were struck off;" and in support of this conjecture, cites
the practice of Sweynheym and Pannartz, as proved by the memorial
addressed in their behalf to Sixtus IV., by J. Andrea, bishop of Aleria,
in 1472, which practice he thus states:--
"If we are to judge from the celebrated list of the number of
copies of the different works printed by those indefatigable
typographical artists, Sweynheym and Pannartz, it would appear
that 275 was the usual number of copies of a particular work;
although sometimes they ventured to strike off as many as 550;
and, twice, not fewer than 1100 copies."
Now, our renowned bibliographer misinterprets the important document
which he cites. Sweynheym and Pannartz printed 300 copies of a
_Donatus_, and the same number of a _Speculum vitæ humanæ_, and of two
more works. In all other cases, each impression of the works which
proceeded from their press consisted of only 275 copies. The words
_Volumina quingenta quinquaginta_ refer to works of which two editions
were published, or which were in two volumes; and the words _Volumina
mille centum_, to a work of which there were two editions of two volumes
each. So the conjecture of Dibdin loses its best support.
As Sweynheym and Pannartz printed only 275 copies of the works of such
authors as St. Augustin and St. Jerome, of Cæsar, Cicero, Livy, Ovid,
Quinctilian, and Virgil--works which must have found purchasers in all
parts of Europe--it is rather improbable that Caxton should have
ventured to exceed that number with respect to books for which, being
chiefly translations, there could be no demand beyond the shores of
England.