At long last the digital version of Joseph Moxon's Mechanick Exercises: or The Doctrine of Handy-Works applied to the Arts of Smithing, Joinery, Carpentry, Turning and Bricklayery, to which is added Mechanick Dyalling... is for sale through The Toolemera Shop. Glitches have been deglitched. Usable on most any operating system out there (I don't know about Mac OS 5, but you never know), all you need is a computer.
On CD-Rom, complete with a nice introduction (written by yours truly) that includes a bio of Mr. Moxon, a bit of history of the book, directions on reading 18th Century print and of course, the complete Mechanick Exercises in facsimile. What, you might ask, is facsimile? I asked myself for permission to use this definition:
From the Latin: fac (make) simile (like). A reproduction of an old book or manuscript that is as true-to-the-original as possible. The facsimile replicates the source material as accurately as possible in terms of pagination, page range, size, color, marginalia and other material qualities.
Which is to say you will have the pleasure of experiencing the textures of early 18th Century paper, complete with owner signatures, personal scribbles, fingerprints, blotches, the damp spot and most of all, the long 's'.
I asked Mr. Moxon for permission to reprint his advertising copy, to which he replied, 'with pleasure'. This advertisement is from the second volume, known as Mechanick Exercises: or, the Doctrine of Handy-Works Applied to the Art of Printing. The second volume (which, in my case, is two volumes in and of itself), will be reprinted at a later date. I was lucky to obtain a copy of the DeVinne reprint of 1896 which is a literal reproduction, as close to a facsimile as you can get). Note: Unfortunately, Typepad does not support 18th Century printing styles. No long 's' is used in this advertisement transcription.
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ADVERTISEMENT
The continuation of my setting forth Mechanick Exercises having been obstructed by the breaking out of the Plot, which took minds of my few Customers from buying them, as formerly; And being of late much importun'd by many worthy Persons to continue them; I have promised to go on again, upon Condition, That a competent number of them may be taken off my hand by Subscribers, soon after the publication of them in the Gazet, or posting up Titles, or by the Mercurius Librarius, &c.
Therefore such Gentlemen or others are willing to promote the coming forth of these Exercises, are desired to Subscribe their Names and place of abode: That to such Persons as live about this City may have them sent so soon as they come forth: Quick Sale being the best encouragement.
Some Gentlemen (to whom they are very acceptable) tell me they will take them when all Trades are finish't, which cannot reasonably be expected from me (my Years considered) in my life-time; which implies they will be Customers when I'me dead, or perhaps by that time some of themselves.
The Price of these Books will be 2d. for each Printed Sheet. And 2d. for every Print taken of of Copper Cuts. There are three reasons why this price cannot by thought dear.
1. The Writing is all new matter, not Collected, or Translated from any other Authors: and the drafts of the Cuts all drawn from the Tools and Machines used in each respective Trade.
2. I Print about 500 on each Sheet. And those upon good Paper: which makes the charge of Printing dear, proportionable to great numbers.
3. Some Trades are particularly affected by some Customers, (who desire not the rest,) and consequently sooner sold off, which renders the remainder of the un-sold Exercises unperfect, and therefore not acceptable to such as desire all: so that they will remain as waste-Paper on my hands.
Joseph Moxon. 1683
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Till next, Gary
