About angelina salacinski Expertise I am always reading books and I have various books on quotations. I can answer most questions on quotations from books or other areas.
Experience i am always doing quizzes so i have a broad knowledge about most things,but i love browsing through my quotation books.
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Willie writes on 2006-09-04 11:31:47
Former chief librarian of the St Bride Printing Library in London and a recipient of the American Printing History Assoc. Individual award for his contribution to the History of Printing in 2003, Professor James Mosley, has written a studious essay on this quotation. His conclusion was that there is no positive source for the quote. If it had originated from Benjamin Franklin or Karl Marx or any other noted personage then it surely would have found its way into the quote books.
Professor Mosley says that it first appeared in print in 1904 by French Academician Jules Claretie as a proposed inscription for a statue of Gutenberg at the then site of the French national printing office, which was about to shift premises.
Claretie's words were "Avec vingt-cinq soldats de plomb il a conquis le monde!" or With 25 soldiers of lead he has ruled the world - no doubt referring to Gutenberg.
I did once see it attributed to Wyynkn de Worde, William Caxton's successor, as . . . "With 24 soldiers . . ." when 24 letters would have been in the English alphabet. That source was "The Book Business" by John Baker [page 10] published by John Baker of Royal Opera Arcade Pall Mall, London (no longer in existence). No date of issue was supplied. However, the Wynykn de Worde Society in London could not confirm that source back in 1992.
It would seem that a definite source for the words has eluded the scholars of printing for the whole of the 20th century. I think it will probably remain an enigma.
James Mosley is easily found on the Web. His studious essay has some interesting thoughts on the quote.
