ILLUMINATED LETTEES.—The first productions of the printing press contained no capital letters at the commencement of sentences or proper names of men and places. Blanks were left for the title, initial letters, and other ornaments, in order to hare them supplied by the illuminators, whose ingenious art, though in vogue before and at that time, did not long survive the masterly improvements made by the printers in this branch of their art. Those ornaments were exquisitely fine and curiously variegated with the most beautiful colours, and even with gold and silver; the margins, likewise, were frequently charged with a variety of figures of saints, birds, beasts, monsters, flowers, &c, which had sometimes relation to the contents of the page, though often none at all. These embellishments were very costly, but for those who could not afford a great price, there were more inferior ornaments which could be done at a much easier rate. The art of illumination has recently been revived, but less as a profession than as an elegant pastime for amateurs of art. Illuminated letters of the most elegant and variegated designs are now sold by the typefounders to supersede these costly ornaments.

ILLUSTRATED BOOKS.—Books illustrated or ornamented by engraving. The earliest specimens of engraving are of the fifteenth century, and the first artist on record is Martin Schoen, of Culmbach, who died in 1486. The Italians claim the invention; but it is remarkable that the first book printed at Rome had the first engravings executed there, and they were done by two Germans, date 1478.