THE COLOPHON--TITLE-PAGE--THE FIRST BOOK WITH A
DATE--COLLATING--ROMAN NOTATION--LATINISED NAMES OF PLACES,
WITH THEIR MODERN EQUIVALENTS.
It must be borne in mind that the title-page of a book, though
constituting a very old method of showing at a glance the nature of the
contents, together with the place of publication and frequently also the
date, is by no means the earliest means of attaining that object. The
title-page, such as we see it, was first adopted in England in 1490, the
year before Caxton's death, having been introduced on the Continent in
1470;[5] but previously--and, indeed, for some years after that
date--the _Colophon_ was in general use.
The term "Colophon" has its origin in the Greek proverb, "to put the
colophon to the matter," that is, the "finishing stroke," and contains
the place or year (or both), date of publication, printer's name, and
other particulars considered necessary at the time for the
identification of the volume. It frequently commences somewhat after the
following form: _Explicit liber qui dicitur_, &c.[6] The colophon,
moreover, is always found on the last page, and sometimes takes the form
of an inverted pyramid. In the early days, when the printer was not
unfrequently author or translator as well, the completion of a work upon
which he had probably been engaged for many months--or, perhaps, in some
instances, years--was rightly regarded as matter for much
self-congratulation, as well as for thanks to the Divine Power, by
whose permission alone he had been enabled to persevere. Hence the
_Psalterium_ of Fust and Schoeffer, a folio of 175 lines to the page,
and remarkable as being the first book in which large capital letters,
printed in colours, were employed, has for its colophon a very
characteristic inscription, which may be translated as follows:--
"This book of Psalms, decorated with antique initials and sufficiently
emphasised with rubricated letters, has been thus made by the masterly
invention of printing and also type-making, without the writing of a
pen, and is consummated to the service of God through the industry of
Johann Fust, citizen of Mentz, and Peter Schoeffer, of Gernsheim, in the
year of our Lord MCCCCLVII., on the eve of the Assumption".
This Psalter is also the first known book which bears any date at all,
and for that and other reasons is one of the most highly prized of
volumes.
From what has been said, the reader will no doubt clearly understand
that it does not follow that, because an old book is minus a title-page,
it is necessarily imperfect. He should turn to the last leaf for the
colophon; but should that be wanting also, it is probable that the book
is deficient, though even this is not a conclusive test. In cases of
doubt the volume must be _collated_, that is, critically compared with
some other specimen: each leaf must be examined carefully, and notes
made of any differences that may appear during the course of the
examination. There is a business-like way and the reverse of tabulating
these notes, so much so that an adept can see at a glance whether it has
been performed by a competent man. The following is the collation of a
copy of the first edition of the famous Genevan version of the Bible
printed by Rowland Hall in 1560, 4to: "Four prel. leaves. Text, Genesis
to ii. Maccabees, 474 ll. folioed, N. T. 122 leaves, 'A Briefe Table' HH
h iii to LLl iii., 13 ll. followed by 1 p. 'The order of the yeres from
Paul's conversion,' &c., rev. blank."
At first sight this may appear somewhat technical, but when a few of
these collations are compared with actual copies of the works to which
they refer, there will be no difficulty in understanding all the rest.
The above, for instance, would read, when set out at full length, as
follows: "There are four preliminary leaves, and then follows the Bible
text proper, which, from Genesis to the 2nd of Maccabees, is on 474
numbered leaves. The New Testament, which follows, has 122 leaves; then
comes 'A Briefe Table,' extending from signature HH h iii to LL l iii,
and comprising 13 leaves, followed by one page, 'The order of the yeres
from Paul's conversion,' &c. The reverse side of this page is blank."
The words "page" and "leaf" have distinct meanings, the latter, of
course, containing two of the former, unless, indeed, one side happens
to be blank, as in the above example. If both sides are blank, the
description would be simply "i 1 blank".
From 1457--the date of Fust and Schoeffer's Psalter, already described
as being the first printed book disclosing on its face the year of
publication--until comparatively recent times, it was customary to use
Roman numerals on the colophon or title-page, as the case might be. This
system of notation is so well understood, or can be so speedily mastered
from almost any arithmetical treatise, that it is hardly worth while to
enlarge upon it here. On some old books, however, there is a dual form
of the "D" representing 500, which is sometimes the cause of
considerable perplexity; e.g., MI[C]XL standing for the year 1540. In
this example the I[C] is equivalent to D; in fact, it would appear
as if the former numeral were merely a mutilation of the latter. Again,
the form CI[C] is equivalent to M or 1000. A few instances will make the
distinction apparent:--
M I[C] XXIV}
or M D XXIV} = 1524;
CI[C] I[C] CLXXXV}
or M D CLXXXV} = 1685;
CI[C] I[C] CLXI}
or M D CLXI} = 1661.
The only part of a title-page which gives any real difficulty to a
person who has a fair knowledge of the Latin language, in which most of
these old books were printed, is the name of the place of publication,
which, being in a Latinised form, frequently bears but a slight
resemblance to the modern appellation. Dr. Cotton, many years ago now,
collected a large number of these Latin forms, partly from his own
reading and partly from the works of various bibliographers who had
chanced occasionally to mention them in their works, and at the present
day his collection stands unapproachable in point of the number of
entries, as well as in general accuracy. The use of this compilation
will be apparent to those who have occasion to consult it even for the
first time, while to advanced collectors, who are not satisfied with
mere possession, it will be found indispensable. The title-page of a
book now before me runs as follows: "_Kanuti Episcopi Vibergensis Quedam
breves expositos s legum et jurium cocordantie et allegatioes circa
leges iucie_"; at the foot is "Ripis, M. Brand, MI[C]IIII". The question
immediately arises: Where is Ripis, the place where the book was
evidently printed by Brand? The best gazetteer may be consulted in vain,
for the title is obsolete now; it is, in fact, the Roman name for Riben,
a small place in Denmark. In like manner, Firenze frequently stands for
Florence, Brixia for Breschia, Aug. Trinob. (Augusta Trinobantum) for
London, Mutina for Modena, and so on. This being the case, some kind of
tabulation becomes absolutely necessary, and the best that occurs to my
mind is to place the Latin titles of all the chief centres of printing
in alphabetical order, and append to each the English equivalent. The
date is that of the first book known to have been printed at the
particular town against which it is set. As the list is not complete,
and could not be made so without the sacrifice of a great deal of space,
the reader is referred to Dr. Cotton's _Typographical Antiquities_ for
any further information he may require. The omissions will be found,
however, to consist, for the most part, of unimportant places, from many
of which only some half-dozen books or less are known to have been
issued, so that the following list will be found sufficient in the vast
majority of cases:--
1486. Abbatis Villa Abbeville.
1621. Abredonia Aberdeen.
1493. Alba Acqui (in Italy).
1480. Albani Villa St. Albans.
1501. Albia Albia (in Savoy).
1480. Aldenarda Oudenarde.
1473. Alostum Alost (in Flanders).
1467. Alta Villa Eltville, or Elfeld (near Mayence).
1523. Amsteloedamum Amsterdam.
1476. Andegavum Angers.
Aneda Edinburgh.
1491. Angolismum Angouleme.
1482. Antverpia Antwerp.
1482. Aquila Aquila (near Naples).
1456(?). Argentina, or Argentoratum Strassburg.
1477. Asculum Ascoli (in Ancona).
1474. Athenae Rauracae Basle.
1517. Atrebatum Arras.
1469. Augusta Vindelicorum Augsburg.
1480. Augusta Trinobantum London.
1481. Auracum Urach (in Wurtemberg).
1490. Aurelia Orleans.
1490. Aureliacum Orleans.
1497. Avenio Avignon.
1462. Bamberga Bamberg.
1478. Barchine Barcelona.
1497. Barcum Barco (in Italy).
1474. Basilea Basle.
1470. {Berona, or}
{Beronis Villa} Beron Minster (in Switzerland).
1487. Bisuntia Besancon.
1471. Bononia Bologna.
1485. Bravum Burgi Burgos.
1472. Brixia Breschia.
1475. Brugae Bruges.
1486. Brunna Brunn.
1476. Bruxellae Brussels.
1473. Buda Buda.
1485. Burgi Burgos.
1484. Buscum Ducis Bois-le-duc.
1478. Cabelia Chablies (in France).
1480. Cadomum Caen.
1475. Caesar Augusta, or Caragoca Saragossa.
1484. Camberiacum Chambery.
1521. Cantabrigia Cambridge.
1497. Carmagnola Carmagnola.
1622. Carnutum Chartres.
1494. Carpentoratum Carpentras.
1486. Casale Major Casal-Maggiore.
1475. Cassela Caselle (in Piedmont).
1484. Chamberium Chambery.
1482. Coburgum Coburg.
1466. Colonia Cologne.
1466. Colonia Agrippina Cologne.
1466. Colonia Claudia Cologne.
1460. Colonia Munatiana Basle.
1466. Colonia Ubiorum Cologne.
1474. Comum Como.
1516. Conimbrica Coimbra.
1505. Constantia Constance.
1487. Cordova Cordova.
1469. Coria Soria (in Old Castile).
1500(about). Cracovia Cracow (Poland).
1472. Cremona Cremona.
1480. Culemburgum Culembourg (in Holland).
1478. Cusentia Cosenza.
1475. Daventria Deventer (in Holland).
1477. Delphi Delft.
1491. Divio Dijon.
1490. Dola Dol (in France).
1564. Duacum Douay.
Eblana Dublin.
1509. Eboracum York.
Edemburgum Edinburgh.
1440(?). Elvetrorum Argentina Strassburg.
1491. Engolismum Angouleme.
1482. Erfordia Erfurt.
1472. Essium Jesi (in Italy).
1473. Esslinga Esslingen (in Wurtemberg).
1531. Ettelinga Etlingen.
1471. Ferrara Ferrara.
1471. Firenze Florence.
1472. Fivizanum Fivzziano (in Tuscany).
1471. Florentia Florence.
1495. Forum Livii Forli (in Italy).
1504. Francofurtum ad Moenum Frankfort on the Maine.
1504. Francofortum ad Oderam Frankfort on the Oder.
1495. Frisinga Freysingen.
1470. Fulgineum Foligno (in Italy).
1487. Gaietta Gaeta.
1490. Ganabum Orleans.
1483. Gandavvm, or Gand Ghent.
1478. Geneva Geneva.
1474. Genua Genoa.
1483. Gerunda Gerona (in Spain).
1477. Gouda Gouda.
1490. Gratianopolis Grenoble.
1493. Hafnia Copenhagen.
Haga Comitum The Hague.
1491. Hamburgum Hamburg.
1491. Hamnionia Hamburg.
1483. Harlemum (probably earlier date) Haarlem.
1504. Helenopolis Frankfort on the Maine.
1479. Herbipolis Wurtzburg.
1476. Hispalis, or Colonia Julia Romana Seville.
1483. Holmia Stockholm.
1487. Ingolstadium Ingolstadt.
1473. Lauginga Laugingen (in Bavaria).
1483. Leida Leyden.
1495. Lemovicense Castrum Limoges.
1566. Leodium Liege.
1503. Leucorea Wittemburg.
1480. Lipsia Leipsic.
1485. Lixboa Lisbon.
1474(?). Londinum London.
1474. Lovanium Louvain.
1475. Lubeca Lubec.
1477. Luca Lucca.
1473. Lugdunum Lyons.
1483. Lugdunum Batavorum Leyden.
1499. Madritum Madrid.
1483. Magdeburgum Magdeburg.
1442(?). Maguntia Mayence.
1732. Mancunium Manchester.
1472. Mantua Mantua.
1527. Marpurgum Marburg.
1473. Marsipolis Mersburg.
1493. Matisco Macon.
1470. Mediolanum Milan.
1473. Messana Messina.
1500. Monachium Munich.
1470. Monasterium Munster (in Switzerland).
1472. Mons Regalis Mondovi (in Piedmont).
1475. Mutina Modena.
1510. Nanceium Nancy.
1471. Neapolis Naples.
1493. Nannetes Nantes.
1525. Nerolinga Nordlingen (in Suabia).
1480. Nonantula Nonantola (in Modena).
1469. Norimberga Nuremberg.
1479. Novi Novi (near Genoa).
1479. Noviomagium Nimeguen.
1533. Neocomum Neuchatel.
1494. Oppenhemium Oppenheim.
1468. Oxonia Oxford (the date is disputed).
1477. Panormum Palermo.
1471. Papia Pavia.
1470. Parisii Paris.
1472. Parma Parma.
1481. Patavia Passau (in Bavaria).
1472. Patavium Padua.
1475. Perusia Perugia.
1479. Pictavium Poitiers.
1483. Pisa Pisa.
1472. Plebisacium Piobe de Sacco (in Italy).
1478. Praga Prague.
1495. Ratiastum Lemovicum Limoges.
1485. Ratisbona Ratisbon.
1480. Regium Reggio.
1482. Reutlinga Reutlingen.
1484. Rhedones Rennes.
1503. Ripa or Ripis Ripen (in Denmark).
1467. Roma Rome.
1487. Rothomagum Rouen.
1479. Saena Siena.
1480. Salmantice Salamanca.
1470. Savillianum Savigliano (in Piedmont).
1474. Savona Savona.
1483. Schedamum Schiedam.
1479. Senae Siena.
1484. Soncino Soncino (Italy).
1514. Southwark Southwark.
1471. Spira Spires (in Pavaria).
1465. Sublacense Monasterium. An independent monastery
about two miles distant from Subiaco, in the
Campagna di Roma.
1484. Sylva Ducis Bois-le-duc.
1471. Tarvisium Treviso (in Italy).
1474. Taurinum Turin.
1468. Theatrum Sheldonianum (the date is disputed) Oxford.
1521. Tigurum Zurich.
1479. Tholosa Toulouse.
1480. Toletum Toledo.
1473. Trajectum ad Rhenum Utrecht.
1504. Trajectum ad Viadrum Frankfort on the Oder.
1471. Trajectum Inferius Utrecht.
1470. Trebia Trevi (in Italy).
1483. Trecae Troyes.
1440 (?). Tribboccorum Strassburg.
1483. Tricasses Troyes.
1476. Tridentum Trent (in the Tyrol).
1498. Tubinga Tuebingen.
1521. Turigum Zurich.
1496. Turones Tours.
1479. Tusculanum Toscolano (in Italy).
1471(?). Ulma Ulm.
1471. Ultrajectum Utrecht.
1485. Ulyssipo Lisbon.
1481. Urbinum Urbino.
1474. Valentia Valentia.
1474. Vallis S. Mariae {Marienthal (an Augustine monastery
{near Mentz, now suppressed).
1469. Venetiae Venice.
1485. Vercellae Vercelli.
1470. Verona Verona.
1487. Vesontio Besancon.
1473. Vicentia Vicenza.
1517. Vilna Wilna (in Russia).
1482. Vindobona Vienna.
1503. Vitemberga Wittemburg.
1488. Viterbium Viterbo.
Vratislavia Breslau.
1474. Westmonasterium Westminster.
1475. Wirceburgum Wurtzburg.
FOOTNOTES:
[5] _Vide_ Pollard's _Last Words on the History of the Title-page_
(Lond., 1891).
[6] Some recent French publishers, such as Quantin and Rouveyre, have
imitated the practice in their editions for bibliophiles.