Front matter
Reading edition
PRINTED AT COLOMBO, BY WILLIAM SKEEN, GOVERNMENT PRINTER, CEYLON.
EARLY TYPOGRAPHY.
BY WILLIAM SKEEN.
COLOMBO: CEYLON. 1872.
The accumulation of materials in the writer’s hands in the course of the last twelve months, has induced him to depart from his original intention of limiting his labours to a single book. A sketch of the history of the spread of the Art, after the sack of Mentz in 1462, with notices of the most material improvements and recent inventions connected with it, will, consequently, form the subjects of a separate volume. It only remains for him now thankfully to acknowledge his obligations to Mrs. J. Ferguson, and Messrs. Iliff, Ronald, and Paatz, of Colombo, for their most kindly rendered assistance, by which he has been enabled to complete this portion of his work much earlier than he otherwise could have done.
January 20, 1872.
Inventors of the Art Sublime Which Knowledge spreads thro’ every clime; Who far the fabled god excell’d, Prometheus, from heaven expell’d. Material fire he brought to earth, They flames of a diviner birth Drew from the seven-fold source of light Seen in the Patmos vision bright, When, the celestial portals raised, Man, on the Godhead’s glories gazed. Majestic Truth they thus reveal’d, By powers of Darkness long conceal’d; Ope’d Freedom’s doors to fetter’d Thought And forces into conflict brought— Mind against mind—an eager fray That shall not cease till Time’s last day; That keener as the contest grows, Truth greater, purer, mightier shews. Thus Knowledge each successive age Advances, wins an onward stage, And gathers in one focus bright Each fresh struck spark, each ray of light, And clears the mists that still are found Historic names and deeds around. This light, that truth reveals, t’ impart, I seek, Disciple of the Art; That to the famed Teutonic three Just meeds of praise may given be; That all aright the men may know To whom Typography we owe; The men whose names immortal ring, Whose gifts transcendent blessings bring, Whose monuments in every land By wisdom rear’d, heart-honor’d stand, Inscribed in tongues of every clime— “Inventors of the Art Sublime!” W. S.