Winged Horse Bindery Blog

This very worn tool came into my possession about a year ago, and has been a bit of an enigma ever since. The image is that of the fish and anchor used by Aldus Manutius when he began the Aldine press in 16th century Italy.

Is this one of the first examples of an attempt at creating a facsimile?

This "Official Copy" of the bible is one of an edition seemingly printed in or shortly before 1914, and there's evidence to show this edition was given out as part of the supplies to soldiers who joined the army around the start of the first world war, but other copies show earlier ownership from the first decade of the 20th century.