PRINTING.

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and others. In 1444, they were joined by John Geinsjleisch,junior, who was also known by the name of Guttenburg, orGuttemberg. This Guttemberg, with the aid of his brotherJohn Geinsfleisch, sen. is said to have invented cut metallictypes, with which were printed the first edition of the Bible ,which appeared in 1450; the completing of it occupiedseven or eight years.

The perfecting of tin's art remained for, and is ascribed toone Peter Schoejfer, first the servant, and then the partnerand son-in-law of Faustus, who was a very ingenious man.Among others of his inventions and improvements, heoriginally devised the mode of casting types in distinctletters, or matrices, as now practised. To him is alsoascribed the invention of copper-plate engraving for im-pressions. The first hook printed with these improved types,was Durancli Rationale, in 1459.

We shall just cast a cursory glance at the various claim-ants for the honour of this art, whose several claims haveengaged the warm attention of several literary character!,without entering into the separate merits of any individual,farther than has been stated; which statement we haveselected dispassionately, and to the best of our judgment.John Mentel, of Strasburg, John Guttemberg and JohnFaust, of Mentz, and L. J ohn Koster, of Haerlem, arethose persons who have claimed this honour ; to them all ithas been by several partizans ascribed. Among their mostnoisy and strenuous advocates appear, Mentel, a physicianof Paris , who claims for his name-sake of Strasburg; andcontends, that he first invented the art in 1440 ; and that inconsideration of it, the Emperor, Frederick III. gave hima coat Of arms corresponding with it, in 1466. He alsoadds, that Guttemberg, whom he had taken in as a partneror associate, carried it to Mentz, where he took in Faustas a partner. John Geinsfleisch, a native of Mentz, whowas his servant, communicated the art to J. Guttemberg,whom Mentel had employed in making some of his tools;becoming thus possessed of it, they removed to settle atMentz, where it was perfected with the assistance of Faust.

It is contended that this account appears doubtful, andis even contradicted by the chronicle of Cologne, Trithemius ,and Wimpeling. The last named writer expressly says,the art of printing was invented incompletely at Strasburg,by Guttemberg, and perfected at Mentz; where Mentelacquired it from Guttemberg and Faust, and returning toStrasburg about 1445, practised it with one Egglestein.