The subject of the early English press could not, of course, be entered upon fully without occupying considerable space, and I must content myself with such a _resume_ as can conveniently be compressed within the compass of a few pages. It is worthy of note that many of these old English printers were, like Aldus Manutius, editors as well. In the early days labour was not divided as it is now, and it is well known that Caxton, for example, not merely translated many of his publications, but cast his own type and bound the sheets when ready for publication. Each of these processes was perfected in his own office, and so well that to this day his handiwork is seldom surpassed. Improved apparatus cannot always hold its own against manual dexterity--an observation which becomes more than ever accentuated when we apply it to the art of Typography, perfect in its results almost from infancy. WILLIAM CAXTON, 1474(?). [Illustration:] Caxton, as, indeed, many of the other printers whose names are subsequently mentioned, used several devices, of which, I think, it will be sufficient to give the chief. This pioneer English printer learned his art during the years 1474-5 in the office of Colard Mansion at Bruges. Sometime about the year 1477 he established himself as a printer at Westminster, where he died in 1491. There are certain distinguishing features by which any of Caxton's works may be known, even if the colophon is lost or the book a mere fragment. His type is _always_ Gothic or old English; he never used catchwords nor commas; and although works from the press of Lettou and Machlinia of London (1480) are exactly like Caxton's in these respects, the measurement of any given space occupied by 20 or 22 lines, according to the description of type used, varies considerably. Since 1819, some twenty hitherto unknown works by Caxton have been identified by the measurement test, for a full explanation of which the collector is referred to Blades' _Life of Caxton_. Among the works printed by this great master may be mentioned the following, which have brought the prices affixed at auction, within the last few years:-- _The Game and Playe of Chesse_, small folio, 31st March, 1474, the first book of Caxton with a date, and a perfect copy, but wanting the two blank leaves (10-1/8 in. x 7-1/8 in.), old calf, L645. _Dictes and Sayinges of the Philosophers_ (11-1/2 in. x 8 in.), 1477, folio, morocco extra, perfect, L650. _Higden's Discripcion of Britayne_, evidently made up from two imperfect copies (11-1/2 in. x 8 in.), morocco extra, 1480, folio, L195. _Chronicles of Englonde_, 1480, folio, wanted part of the index and otherwise greatly imperfect, L67; another copy (9-1/2 in x 7 in.), perfect, L470. _Higden's Polychronicon_, 1482, 4to, a very imperfect copy, containing only 205 leaves, L31.