Note 74 — Early Typography. CHAPTER III.

Various metals were used in the manufacture of types. Mr. Blades, at pages xx. and xxiv. of his second volume of the Life and Typography of Caxton, gives extracts from the “Cost Book” of the Directors of the Ripoli Press at Florence, 1474–1483, a document still extant in the Magliabechi library at Florence, and printed in the “Notizie Storiche sopra la Stamperia di Ripoli, la quali possono servire all’ illustrazione della Storia Tipografica Fiorentina. Raccolta e pubblicate dal P. Vincezio Fineschi. 8vo. In Firenze MDCCLXXXI.” From this it seems that for the steel required (probably for punches) the price paid per lb. was equivalent to 9s. of present current money; for metal (not otherwise described) 2s. 0¾d.; brass, 2s. 3d.; copper, 1s. 3d.; tin, 1s. 6d.; lead, 5¼d.; and iron wire, 1s. 6d.