Devil

Otherwise, “Printers’ Devil,” is a term applied to the boy who does the drudgery work of a printing-office. In former years it was commonly used; of late it has become almost obsolete in London, owing to the number of boys employed. On newspapers, the boy who waits on the Editor for “copy” is generally termed “the Devil.” It is more frequently employed by provincial Printers.

There is an old tradition, says Disraeli’s “Curiosities of Literature,” concerning the relations supposed to exist between one of the first printers and his Satanic Majesty. When the Bibles of Faust appeared before the world, they were designed to imitate those which were commonly sold as MSS. Faust attempted the sale of his books at Paris, and he considered it to be his interest to coneal the art of printing with moveable types. He was enabled to sell his books at sixty crowns each, while the scribes demanded five hundred for theirs. This circumstance excited universal astonishment, and still more when he produced copies as fast as they were wanted, and even lowered his price. The uniformity of the copies increased the popular wonder still further. Informations were given to the authorities against him, as a magician; and, on searching his lodgings, a great number of copies were found. The red ink—and Faust’s red ink is peculiarly brilliant—which embellished his copies was said to be his blood; and it was solemnly adjudged that he was in league with Satan. Faust was at length obliged, to safe himself from a bonfire to reveal his art to the authorities, who then discharged him from all prosecution in consideration of this useful invention. Such is the tradition, but authorities on the early history of Typography differ as to its authenticity.