It was doubtless from this casual notice that Rowe Mores derived his scant reference to Walpergen, of whom he knows nothing, save that he founded at Oxford in 1683, was sometimes called Walperger, and by name appears to have been a foreigner, therefore probably a “transient,” by means of his countryman Michael Burghers, the University engraver. Of Walpergen’s work little is known beyond the fact that he appears to have devoted his attention chiefly to the production of Music type, impressions of which appear in the University _Specimen_ of 1695. The punches and matrices of this interesting fount are still preserved at Oxford, and are singular relics of the old letter-founders’ art.[396] [Illustration: 54. Music, cut by Walpergen, Oxford, _circ._ 1695. (From the original matrices.)] Although the Music was the only fount cut by Walpergen of which we have any certain knowledge, it is probable that the experienced Dutch artist, whom Bagford describes as an excellent workman, did not confine his labours to that class of work. What were his exact relations with the University Press is also a matter of conjecture. But it seems probable, from the manner in which he is spoken of by Moxon, and in the Oxford _Specimen_, that he practised as a letter-founder on his own account, and not wholly as an official of the University. He died in 1714.[397] Among the University archives is preserved an inventory of his chattels, which, if a full account of his earthly possessions, speaks {209} poorly for the profits of the profession of letter-founding in those days. This highly interesting document runs as follows[398]:― _An inventory of the Chattels of Peter De Walpergen, deceased, taken the tenth day of January 1714–5._ Being the Moiety of a Fount of Musick. £ _s._ _d._ Two hunderd and two pounds weight of Mettal (? cast type) at four pence per pound his part is 1 13 8 One hunderd fourty seven Matrices at one Shilling per piece his part is 3 13 6 Nine quadrats at two pence per piece his part is 0 0 9 Four moulds at two shillings six pence per piece his part 0 5 0 Sixty three puncheons at five shillings (_i.e._, for the lot) his part 0 2 6 Four cases at four shillings his part 0 2 0 Two galleys at two shillings his part 0 1 0 A box at sixpence his part 0 0 3 Appraised by us, LEONARD LICHFIELD. RICHARD GREEN. The extraordinarily low value of the punches is quite consistent with the esteem in which these now precious steel originals were held at the time, after once being struck.