, a goldsmith of Mentz, was one of the three artists considered
, a goldsmith of Mentz, was
one of the three artists considered as the inventors of printing, the two others being Guttemberg and Scheeffer. It is
not, however, certain, that he did more than supply money
to Guttemberg, who had made attempts with moveable
metal types at Strasburg, before he removed to Mentz, in
1444. But it has been strongly argued, that Laurence
Koster, at Harlaem, had first conceived the art of cutting
wooden blocks for this purpose in 1430, which he immediately improved, by substituting separate wooden types.
Schaetfer undoubtedly invented the method of casting the
metal types, in 1452. The first printed book with a date,
is said to have been a Psalter, published at Mentz in 1457;
the next, perhaps, is “Durandi Rationale divinorum Officiorum,
” by Fust and Schaeffer in Catholicon
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