Presswork
Because information about presswork, specifically the order of the
formes through the press, is relatively easy to obtain and is based on
evidence that is the least controvertible, the analysis of each quire
began with proof of the order of the formes, which was made on these
grounds:
- 1. Evidence from the components of the skeleton-forme,
such
as running-titles and rules, and from center rules, taking into account the
testimony of priority given by disfigurations, dislocations, and other
peculiarities.[4] It was
assumed,
in the absence of indications to the contrary, that two skeleton-formes
would have been used alternately.
- 2. Evidence from type matter reappearing within the
quire. When a piece of type, a scene head, an ornament, or a rule
not
a part of the skeleton-forme appears twice within the same quire, it is
apparent that one of the formes of the quire was printed and distributed (at
least in part) before composition of the entire quire was completed. It was
assumed, lacking contrary evidence, that two formes containing the same
piece of type matter would not have been machined concurrently, for had
they been, a delay in presswork would have resulted.
- 3. Evidence from embossing. The priority of the
formes printing and perfecting a single sheet can be determined from the
embossing of the inked paper by the type of the perfecting forme,[4a] but because embossing resulted
largely
from the pressure exerted by the pressman's pull, there are nearly always
differences in the degree of embossing in different examples of the same
sheet. Because one of the copies of the Folio used for this study is not
generally accessible, the evidence from embossing is not reported. It may
be understood, however, that the implications of this kind of evidence as it
appeared in the copies examined never contradicted the conclusions drawn
from other evidence.
