1740

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Source:

Title: Medal
Illustrator: -
Engraver: J. Dassier
Location: Leipzig
Year: 1740
Links: [Scan 1], [Scan 2].

Comments:

William Blades (1869) describes the reverse of this coin as ‘Leipsig, 1740. A printing-press, near to which, seated on a bale of paper, is a female figure holding in her right hand a pair of inking-balls. A composing stick is in her left hand, which rests upon a shield bearing the printer’s arms. The legend is: ARS VICTURA DUM LITTERIS MANEBIT PRETIUM. In the Exergue: ‘ANNO TYP. SAECUL. III. GRATA POSTERITAS EXCUDIT MDCCXL. Beneath which in small letters: I. Dassier, F. This medal is commonly but erroneously attributed to Geneva because Dassier resided there. It was, however, a commission from the Leipsig University, and was distributed in that city upon the occasion of the Typographical Jubilee.’ Number: 2M (illustration page 210, description page 34). It is likely that Blades refers to Gessner (1740) for this incorrect attribution.

Gessner, Christian Friedrich (1740) Die so nöthig als nützliche Buchdruckerkunst und Schriftgiezerey, mit ihren Schriften, Formaten und allen dazu gehörigen Instrumenten shows an illustration of it in Volume 3, Table VI, number V. A description can be found in volume 3, page 172. This refers to Geneva.

Technique:

Casting?

References:

Blades, William (1869) A list of medals, jettons, tokens, & c., in connection with printers and the art of printing. London. (see Plates 2M).

Gessner, Christian Friedrich (1740) Die so nöthig als nützliche Buchdruckerkunst und Schriftgiezerey, mit ihren Schriften, Formaten und allen dazu gehörigen Instrumenten.