Oak Knoll

The scarce first edition (Bigmore & Wyman II, 110). Bigmore and Wyman state that George Psalmanazar had much to do with the writing of this book, and he added a brief 3-page biographical note on Palmer (who had died in 1732) at the end of the book, which is lacking in this copy. The historical facts presented by Palmer are not too accurate; a second volume on the technique of printing, a subject that Palmer could have handled well, was never completed because of the opposition of his fellow printers.

First Edition. 4to. Later half calf over marbled paper boards. Rubbed with considerable worming mainly confined to the tail and inner margins but affecting the text from 2L3 to 2N3, paper fault in C1, small hole in 2D4, several headlines lightly shaved.


Collation: (vii), [5], 312, [1], 122-144,337-400, pp. The last leaf entitled 'Explicit liber quarts Dialogorum Gegorii,' which was prepared by George Psalmanazar, is present.


Provenance: The book was sold as a duplicate of the British Museum in 1787. Coat of arms for The Right Honble Charles Bathurst, Sydney Park on front paste down. Latin Motto: Tien Ta Foy. Bathurst was a British politician in the early 19th century and was a member of parliment (for various counties) for over 30 years.

"PALMER (Samuel). The General History of Printing from its first invention in the City of Mentz to its first Progress and Propagation thro' the most celebrated cities in Europe. Particularly its introduction, rise, and progress, here in England. The Character of the most celebrated Printers, from the first Inventors of the Art to the years 1520 and 1550. With an account of their Works and of the most considerable improvements which they made to it during that Interval Printed hy the Author, and sold by his Widow at his late printing-house in Bartholomew Close; also by J Roberts in Warwick Lane and by most booksellers in town and country. 1732. 4to. Preface and contents, xii pp 400. The work is entirely historical and little value being very inaccurate even for the time in which it was written. Had the anthor lived he intended to printed another volume upon the Mechanics of the Art ,which, as he was practical man and an excellent printer, would probably have been a worthy production Palmer died in 1732 when work was all but completed. It received its finishing touches from Psalmanazar, who was generally credited with a much larger share in the production of the entire volume than its nominal author He died in 1763. The last sheet in Book II, having been kept hack for some additions, Psalnanazar wrote an "Address" to fill up the last two pages in which will be found a short account of Palmer's death and other matters signed "G. P." Daunou speaks of it as an esteemed work, in which the author (a printer) was assisted by that singular but learned character George Psalmanazar. Palmer considers Fust and Scheffer as the inventors of printing, and fixes the origin of printing to the year 1440, and the invention of types between the years 1440 and 1450."... The part already published embraced subjects with which Palmer was not conversant, and he at first employed a worthless felllow who wasted away the time; until three months before the book was promised to be published no part of the copy was prepared. He then applied to Psalmanazar, who entered upon it with vigor, and issued some portions of the book, but had not proceeded far when Palmer became bankruped, and soon after died. The Earl of Pembroke hearing of the state of the case liberally supplied money to complete he publication, and assisted the compiler with the loan of books out of his own library..."(Bigmore & Wyman III, pp. 110-111.).