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Table VI: Analysis of Numbers 1734-1754
In the first three years both woodblock and imprint went through numerous changes (a-e for the one, 1-16 for the other), all disclosing in one combination or another a number of variants easily classified and ordered. Over the next twenty-one years, however, these features change much less frequently (d-f, 17-24), and any one combination may persist for a considerable period: (d) 19, for example, extending over 25 months without interruption, and (e1) 21 lasting once for 17 and once again for 26 months. As these points become stabilized it is therefore necessary to introduce new variables, these preferably of a kind exhibiting, in editions now of greatly enlarged issue, reimpressions from standing type.
Whatever its extent, no list of points will encompass every contingency. Press-figures, the most convenient index, have occurred only once before, in May 1732, and then as a single asterisk dropped in the course of printing. Figures again appear several times in 1734, there signifying all sorts of confusion,[22] but then disappear forever. Broken headline types, cited last year by Mr. Leed to differentiate certain 1742 variants, provide no clue as to the order of printing and—as I have already determined—fail to distinguish the revised impressions of 1745-1746.
Certain other evidence, though also ineffective for rapid reimpressions of the 1745-1746 type, does provide, usually, a ready means for ordering the variants. Apart from the two points now considered (woodblock and imprint), this may be discovered in three other features: (3) last entry to left of woodblock, ordinarily recording the most recent periodical issued in London; (4) last entry to right of woodblock, noting papers—but not by name—printed elsewhere; (5) ornamental block heading first page of text, hereafter identified by central figure. With some exceptions all five points remain in a certain combination, or in a typographical skeleton, only from
A resetting precisely defined by these means appears in the January 1741 number:
Points 1-2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | |
(d)2010 | Englishman | Sherborn | head | [Copy C] |
(e)2011 | Champion | Sherborn | cherub | [Copy G] |
The several 1742 variants identified by Mr Leed are also susceptible to this approach. These are listed in his sequence, but with key letters reordered, if necessary, to account for the point latest occurring in the combination (signified by an asterisk) and the date of that occurrence (entered to the right).
January 1742 (three editions) | |||||
A. | (e)2011 | Hyp Doctor | Sherborn | sun | |
C. | * (e1)20 | Whitehall Ev Post | Cambridge | vase | [April 1746] |
B. | (e)2011 | *Champion | Sherborn | cherub | [May 1742] |
February 1742 (one edition partially reimpressed[24] and, as now determined, a second setting)
A1-2. | (e)2011 | Hyp Doctor | Sherborn | sun | |
B. | (e2)2011 | *World | Glasgow | rose | [Jan. 1753] |
Less significant but still differentiated are the two numbers next cited.
March 1742 (one edition twice partly reimpressed[25])
A1. | (e)2011 | Hyp Doctor | Sherborn | sun |
A2-3. | (e)2011 | Hyp Doctor | Sherborn | *cherub [April 1742] |
A1. | (e)2011 | Westminster Journal Sherburn | sun |
A2. | (e)2011 | Westminster Journal *Birmingham | sun [November 1742] |
August | [1] none | [2] (August 1742) |
September | [1] (August 1742.) | [2] September 1742.) |
For certain numbers in 1734-1736 the several variables occasionally reveal, in the two leaves to which they apply, a duplicate setting simultaneously printed of these leaves only. This situation may arise whenever, in half-sheet imposition, there is an extra two-leaf fold which, if unduplicated, would occupy only half a forme. Thus in the three successive 1734 collations given below an alternate setting should not be expected in August (with two doubletons, probably imposed together), but may be found both in September[26] (with three) and in October[27] (with only one).
August | September | October |
π2 3D-3H4 3I-3K4 | π2 3L2 3M4 3N2 3O-3S4 | 3T2 3U-3Z4 3A-3C4 |
1734 | ||||
September | (e)17 | York 2 News | bowl | |
(d)16 | Gen. Ev. Post | sun | ||
October | (d)16 | Gen. Ev. Post | sun | |
(e)17 | York 2 News | bowl | ||
November[29] | (e)17 | The Prompter | sun | |
(d)17 | The Pramsteer | bowl | ||
1735 | ||||
September[30] | (d)17 | D. Gazetteer | head | |
(e)17 | D. Gazetteer | vase | ||
November[31] | (e)18 | D. Gazetteer | vase | |
(d)18 | D. Gazetteer | head | ||
1736 | ||||
March | (d)19 | Lon D. Post | lyre | |
(e)19 | D. Gazetteer | head |
In Supplements, where the only point is the ornament above caption title first page of text, this point alone will suffice, for no ornament can be used more than once in a duplicate setting. Thus the Supplement for 1750 exhibits in C and P copies respectively, a head and urn. At first glance it would appear that this number, like the one for August 1734, is not subject to duplication, since there are two quarter-sheets[32] which could be combined: 12 2-34 42 5-64. However, it must be remembered that the annual title and preface fold is printed with this extra number, and was here doubtless imposed with gathering 4, leaving 1 as an odd doubleton to be set twice.
With due reference to the several matters cited above, the following Table denotes, throughout by the symbol τ, some thirty-seven variants from the main impression as represented by "C" and equivalent copies. Among other variants yet undisclosed an appreciable number, I suspect, may be identified and ordered by the criteria now established.
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