induced, I apprehend, a second similar Firm, under the names of HIGMAN and HOFYL, to establish a printing office in that city. Accordingly, these two typographical artists commenced business there about the year 1484;* but following the examples of a host of printers, then beginning to open their offices, they confined themselves chiefly to books of theology, including church-services; and rarely indulged the tasteful reader with an impression of a classical author.

Now that I have got you fast within the capital of the French empire, let me disport myself a little in topics connected with early Parisian printing. Be it known, then, that Devices were never used by the Fathers of the French press--but among the Elder Sons of the same press (if you will allow me the privilege of such an expression) few came forward with such a blaze of splendour as ANTOINE VERARD;† whether we consider the number, the size, or the

* Higman and Hopyl-commenced business about the year 1484.] JOHN HIGMAN printed the poem 'de quatuor fontibus honestatis' of Mancinus, in 1484, 4to. in the Sorbonne Academy: see Panzer, vol. ii. p. 285, no. 103: and La Caille, p. 69. His partner, WOLFGANG HOPYL, printed Martinus, de Fortitudine,' in 1489; but when they first commenced printing together, I am unable to specify, although the Cat. de la Valliere (vol. ii. no. 2589) says they printed in unison from the first-mentioned period. Their joint names appear in the colophon of an edition of Seneca's Tragedies, without date, in 4to. See Bibl. Spenceriana, vol. ii. p. 350. The device of Hopyl, who printed alone in 1495, may be seen in the work just referred to, vol. iii. p. 298. Chevillier has scarcely any notice of these German artists.

+ few came forward with such a blaze of splendour as ANTOINE VERARD.] La Caille is quite eloquent in commendation of the brave Anthony. 'Ce Verard a esté un de ceux qui ont le plus imprimé de son temps, et particulièrement des Romans, dont il y a plus de cent volumes imprimez sur du vélin, ornez de très belles migniatures, en imitant le plus soigneusement les manuscrits sur lesquels ils imprimoient, que l'on peut voir en la Bibliothèque du Roy.' De l'Imprim. et de la Librairie, p. 63. Maittaire makes him begin to flourish in the year 1480, and is not less eloquent in his praise: quo vix alius Typographus majorem Librorum copiam in lucem edidit. Artem diu exercuit indefessus eâ certè laude, ut paucissimos ex coævis pares habuerit'... Libris sermone Gallico imprimendis