Anno mcccclxxvii die xii Maii. This book was printed at Lucca, where Bartolommeo de Cividale first inaugurated the art, on May 12, 1477. In the “Manuale” or “Liber de salute siue de Aspiratione Animae ad Deum” of S. Augustine, printed at Treviso in 1471, we find Gerard de Lisa boasting, with more poetry, but less precision: Gloria debetur Girardo maxima lixae, Quem genuit campis Flandria picta suis. Hic Tarvisina nam primus coepit in urbe Artifici raros aere notare libros. Quoque magis faueant excelsi numina regis Aurelii sacrum nunc manuale dedit. Gerard de Lisa may great glory claim— He who from Flanders’ glowing meadows came— For in Treviso’s town he foremost was To print rare books by the skilled use of brass. And that the heavenly powers may more him bless, Comes Austin’s holy manual from his press. Curiously enough, a year before Joannes de Sidriano issued the first book at Pavia, printing had been inaugurated at Mantua with another work by the same not very illustrious author—Gambiglioni’s “Tractatus Maleficiorum.” In this Petrus Adam de Michaelibus writes: Petrus Adam Mantus opus hoc impressit in urbe. Illic nullus eo scripserat aere prius. Petrus Adam printed this work in the town of Mantua. None had written there on brass before him. All these claims seem sufficiently well established, but that of Filippo of Lavagna in the “De medicina” of Avicenna (translated by Master Gerard of Cremona) is much less tenable. Here he says distinctly at the end of Book II: Mediolani die xii februarii 1473 per Magistrum Filippum de Lauagnia huius artis stampandi in hac urbe primum latorem atque inventorem. At Milan, on the 12th day of February, 1473, by Maestro Filippo of Lavagna, the first bearer and inventor of the art of stamping in this town. We know that Antonio Zaroto had printed at Milan a “Festus de Verborum significationibus” on the 3d August, 1471, while the earliest date credited to Lavagna is that of his edition of the “Epistolae ad Familiares” of Cicero, 25th March, 1472. It is true that the pretty colophon to his “Miraculi de la Vergene Maria” tells another tale: Dentro de Milano e doue stato impronta L’opra beata de miraculi tanti Di quella che nel Ciel monta e dismonta Accompagnata con gli angeli e sancti. Philippo da Lauagna qui vi si conta E state el maestro de si dolce canti. Impressum anno Domini MCCCCLXVIIII di xviiii Maii. Within Milan is where has been printed the blessed work of so great miracles of Her who ascends and descends in Heaven, accompanied by the angels and saints. Filippo da Lavagna here is the speaker, and is become the master of so sweet songs. Printed in the year of the Lord 1469, on May 19.