Of these there are two classes, the first large and used for the centre of titlepages or with conspicuous colophons (these I term Devices), the other smaller ornaments, used for borders, or to mark the beginning or end of a chapter, or generally for decorative purposes: these I call Woodcuts. The descriptions which follow are not intended to be fuller than is sufficient to distinguish the more important. The measurements (as always) are the least possible, and not the full size of the plate or block.
Of these there are, in the period under review, fourteen:—
A. 311
16 × 2⅞ in. On a shield the arms of the University (with motto SAPiEN|TiAE: |
ET. | FELi|CiTA|TiS. | ), within a border bearing ACADE=|MIA. | OXONI=|ENSIS. |
At the corners are two females and two satyrs.
Used in 1585–93, 1597–1600, and at intervals till 1635, but not from 1625 to 1633.
B. 1⅞ × 1⅝ in. A metal engraving. In centre the arms of the University, with
| Sa Pi |
et Fe, |
within a ribbon bearing ACADEMIA OXONIENSIS. Above and on each side and below are female figures with emblems and scrolls, and underneath all IOSEPH’ BARNESIUS.
Used only in 1591. (Barne and Tacitus.)
Ba. 115
16 × 1¾ in. A wood engraving from B, omitting Barnes’s name: the motto
is
| SA PI |
et F: |
and there are other small changes.
Used in 1627–8, 1630–33, 1635–7, 1640.
C. 1¼ × 15
16 in. An ornamental shield, with the arms of the University, the legend
being
| SA PI ET |
FE LI CI: |
at the sides AC: and OX. There is a defect (a short line omitted) on one shoulder, which serves to distinguish it from H.
Used at intervals from 1592 to 1638.
There is a counterfeit of this used in London printing of at least 1616 and 1624: see pp. 106, 120, and H, below.
D. 17
16 + in. squ. A nine-spoked wheel with two mottos “Omnia subiacent vicissitudini,”
and “Sola virtus cadere non potest.”
Used in 1592–3, 1620, 1629.
E. 1¼ × 11
16 in. An ornamental shield with the Royal Arms, and at the sides E:
and R.
Used in 1594.
F. 15
16 × 13
16 in. An ornamental shield with the arms of New College between
two W s (William of Wykeham).
Used in 1598, 1605.
G. 1¾ in. squ. A circular watch-face, with “Donec dies est . Iohan: 9.4”, and figures: for John Day of Oriel.
Used in 1614–5, 1620.
H. 15
16 × 1⅜. Similar to C, but slightly larger. Perhaps a London counterfeit.
Used in 1616 and 1624.
I. 2¼ × 115
16 in. In centre the arms of the University on a white shield with
| SAP IEN TJA |
FEL ICIT ATIS, |
and round it a band with ACADE|MIA. | OXONI=|ENSIS. At the corners are two winged figures, a rose and a thistle.
Used in 1628, and at intervals till 1637, by Turner only.
J. 2⅝ × 27
16 in. An Agnus Dei; beneath it “IOH : 1 : 26” and “ECCE AGN’ |
DEI”, a text round it.
Used in 1628.
K. 17
16 × 1⅜. The arms of the University, with the motto
| SAP IENC TIA |
.ET FELI CIT ATE, |
and round it ACADEMIA. | OXONIESIS, a cherub above.
Used in 1630–4, 1636–8, 1640: in and after 1634 the ATE is altered to ATIS.
L. 3½ × 2⅜ in. The arms of Great Britain and Ireland, crowned, with “C.”, “R.” at sides of crown.
Used in 1636.
M. 4½ × 3⅜. A Tree of Knowledge, boys plucking fruit, &c.
Used in 1636 (Lily’s Grammar).
These are 142 in number (not counting plain woodcut capitals), of which 32 were used by Barnes. Most of these passed on to his successors, who augmented them. In 1627 the two University printers printed separately, and John Lichfield took the larger number for himself, a few being used in common. It would be idle to print a complete list of these, but the writer has full notes of the occurrence of all that are found in each book. Twelve are alphabets, fifteen frames within which any capital could be placed, and four are arched borders.
The following table exhibits the use made of different type by Oxford printers 1585–1640, but applies only to the chief type of the body of the work. Thus Pica Greek is the chief type of a book in 1591 at earliest, but it is found occasionally in 1587, and Long Primer Greek in 1585. So too Great Primer Greek is used in 1624, 9. And Hebrew type is used sporadically from 1596 on (Long Primer, Pica and English, pointed and unpointed: see 1596, 8 & 9; 1601, 2; 1602, 3; &c.)
| 1585 | 1590 | 1595 | 1600 | 1605 | 1610 | 1615 | 1620 | 1625 | 1630 | 1635 | 1640 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| English: | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 1 | Long Primer | 2 | ½ | ½ | ½ | 1 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 2 | Pica | 2 | 6 | 1 | 2 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 4 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1½ | 2 | 1 | 1 | 1½ | 2½ | 2 | 2 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 3 | Great Primer | 1 | 1 | 3 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Roman: | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 4 | Minion | 1 | 4 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 5 | Brevier | ½ | 1 | 1 | 1 | 5 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 6 | Long Primer | 2 | 1 | 1 | ½ | 1 | 1 | 2 | ½ | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 1 | 2 | 1 | 2 | 1 | 2 | 1 | 5½ | 2 | 4½ | 1 | 6½ | 4 | 4 | 2 | 7½ | 3 | 7 | 3 | 6 | ||||||||||||||||||||
| 7 | Pica | 2 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 1 | 2½ | 1½ | 2 | 1 | 1 | 3 | 1 | 5½ | 5 | 2 | 3 | 5 | 6 | 3½ | 1 | 4 | 2 | 3 | 7½ | 7 | 6 | 1 | 2 | 4 | 4 | 1 | 3 | 2 | 5 | 2½ | 7 | 1 | 12½ | 6½ | 5 | 15½ | 3 | 4½ | 12 | 3 | 9½ | 10 | 5 | 4 | 14 | 7 | ||||||
| 8 | English | 1 | 2 | 1 | 1 | 7 | 3 | 1 | 8½ | 6 | 9 | 7 | 4 | 6 | 1 | 16 | 16 | 5 | 5 | 3 | 4 | 1 | 2 | 2 | 4 | 2 | 12 | 3 | 5 | 5 | 3 | 7 | 6 | 4 | 12 | 2 | 6 | 5 | 4 | 10 | 3 | 3 | 8 | |||||||||||||||
| 9 | Great Primer | ½ | 2 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1½ | 2 | 5 | 1 | 1 | 6 | 3 | 2 | 1 | 3 | 5 | 2½ | 9 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 10 | Double Pica | 1 | 10 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Italic: | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 11 | Long Primer | 1 | 1 | 11 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 12 | Pica | 2 | 3 | 1 | 1 | ½ | 2 | 2 | ½ | ½ | 1 | ½ | 1 | 12 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 13 | English | ½ | ½ | 13 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 14 | Great Primer | 1 | 14 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Greek: | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 15 | Long Primer | 1 | ½ | 15 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 16 | Pica | 1 | 1½ | 1 | 2 | 1 | 1 | 16 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| The above table has reference only to the chief type of the body of the book. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Number of books or pieces printed at Oxford | 7 | 16 | 9 | 7 | 5 | 5 | 7 | 11 | 7 | 7 | 4 | 8 | 11 | 6 | 7 | 5 | 3 | 12 | 11 | 10 | 13 | 8 | 10 | 17 | 7 | 7 | 2 | 24 | 26 | 17 | 16 | 6 | 9 | 7 | 8 | 5 | 6 | 9 | 5 | 8 | 24 | 9 | 14 | 22 | 19 | 14 | 32 | 9 | 34 | 21 | 16 | 18 | 24 | 23 | 20 | 26 | ||
| Average | 8 | 7 | 10 | 12 | 12 | 21 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
The ordinary size (now) of the type used in the Oxford Press from 1585 to 1640 is as follows, see p. 144 (1629, no. 4):—