DOI Page / Citation link:
https://doi.org/10.11588/diglit.7597#0021
PREFACE.
friend should have thought it necessary in this place to preface his
condemnation of my opinion, as to the style and merit of the cuts
alluded to, with a compliment. As, however, he has omitted to
give his reasons for differing with me so decidedly upon these points,
it will be sufficient for me to refer the reader to the third Chapter of
this work; in many parts of which I have endeavoured to shew,
that the wood-engravings in the three block-books above men-
tioned, although in the dry manner of the time, are far from
deserving the appellation of rude performances, or puerile efforts of
the art-
It is not my intention to discuss all the various passages of Mr.
Singer's book in which his opinion happens to be at variance with
my own: he himself observes, (p. 128), that in treating of the
origin of typography, he has taken a different view of the subject.
I cannot, however, help remarking, that in his argument concerning
the last-mentioned important question, he displays more frequently
the zeal of an advocate than the deliberation of an impartial in-
quirer. Thus, at p. 110, Mr. Singer opens his examination of the
claims of Harlem to the invention of typography, by stating, that
that city, in order the more effectually to establish those claims,
" deemed it expedient to accuse the Germans of theft, in having stolen
" the art from thence;" after which he says : " let us examine with
" care, and with an unprejudiced mind, the testimonies in her behalf
" that we may decide impartially," &c. What would be thought
of the judge who should deliver an opinion as to the guilt of a
prisoner, before the jury had heard the evidence for or against him!
At pp. 116 and 145, and following pages, Mr. Singer intimates
his suspicions that the magistracy of Harlem improperly lent their
friend should have thought it necessary in this place to preface his
condemnation of my opinion, as to the style and merit of the cuts
alluded to, with a compliment. As, however, he has omitted to
give his reasons for differing with me so decidedly upon these points,
it will be sufficient for me to refer the reader to the third Chapter of
this work; in many parts of which I have endeavoured to shew,
that the wood-engravings in the three block-books above men-
tioned, although in the dry manner of the time, are far from
deserving the appellation of rude performances, or puerile efforts of
the art-
It is not my intention to discuss all the various passages of Mr.
Singer's book in which his opinion happens to be at variance with
my own: he himself observes, (p. 128), that in treating of the
origin of typography, he has taken a different view of the subject.
I cannot, however, help remarking, that in his argument concerning
the last-mentioned important question, he displays more frequently
the zeal of an advocate than the deliberation of an impartial in-
quirer. Thus, at p. 110, Mr. Singer opens his examination of the
claims of Harlem to the invention of typography, by stating, that
that city, in order the more effectually to establish those claims,
" deemed it expedient to accuse the Germans of theft, in having stolen
" the art from thence;" after which he says : " let us examine with
" care, and with an unprejudiced mind, the testimonies in her behalf
" that we may decide impartially," &c. What would be thought
of the judge who should deliver an opinion as to the guilt of a
prisoner, before the jury had heard the evidence for or against him!
At pp. 116 and 145, and following pages, Mr. Singer intimates
his suspicions that the magistracy of Harlem improperly lent their