THE COLOPHON.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 20290, 24 December 1927, Page 14

THE COLOPHON.

Early books had no title pages (says John T. Winterioh in “ A Primer of Book Collecting ”). The title of the work, the printer’s name, and the date of issue—not alone the year, but often the actual day of publication —appeared instead on the final page as a colophon. Thus the colophon of Johan Fyssher’s “ The Seven Penitential Psalms,” published by Wynkyn de Worde in 1509, reads: “Here endeth the exposycyon of the vii ?salmes. Enprynted at London in the iete-street at the synge of the sonne, by Wynkyn de Worde prynter unto the most excellent prynccss my lady the kynges grandame. In the fere of our lorde god M.COOCC and ix the xii daye of the moncth of Juyn.” The colophon was beautifully and effectively restored in the books produced by William Morris at the Kelmscott Press four centuries later. The masterpiece of that press, the Kelmscott Chaucer (1896), is one of the printing masterpieces of ail lime. A copy in a special binding of white pigskin—one of 48 so bound out of 425 copies printed—sold recently for 1350d01. Xot all Kclmscotta are anything like so expensive, and any collection of rare books is dignified by the inclusion of one or two of the Jess pretentious but beautiful items that can be had for 25d01 or thereabouts.

A 100 per cent, of passes was gained by the entrants presented for the 1027 Sroficiency examinations by the To Kuili istrict High School (reports the correspondent of the Xew Zealand Herald). There was a total of 04 pupils. This is a meritorious performance, and Mr C. Bathgate, a master of the school, who for the most part coached the pupils, is worthy of commendation for the results aclnoved. The usual height at which swallows, wild ducks, geese, and other birds fly whon travelling long distances is from 1000 f t to 25n0ft. Cranes have been known to fly five miles above tke MTttu