smen of Mesopotamia, who were clever
artists in metal, and the work they performed came to Europe through
Syria. The example shown in Fig. 81 is the work of Mahmud, the son of
Sonkor, of Baghdad, and is dated 1281. This beautiful specimen may be
seen in the British Museum.

The implements the scribe used changed as time went on, for parchment
was used quite early in the East. Writing was introduced into Spain by
the Moors in the tenth century, although writing paper was not made in
England until the fifteenth century.

[Illustration: FIG. 79.--OLD COIN TESTER.]

[Illustration: FIG. 80.--MINIATURE SOUVENIR ALMANAC.]

[Illustration: FIG. 81.--ANCIENT WRITING SET.]

The evolution of the pen has been slow, for the use of quills continues
still in some Government offices, and quills are still supplied to
readers in the British Museum Reading Room. The old-fashioned quill pens
were in days gone by shaped with a small knife made specially for that
purpose. Indeed, it is to the quill pen that we are indebted for our
"pen" knives, which have long been put to other uses. It was not
every one who was expert in cutting a pen neatly and making it write
well. Consequently an instrument was made for that purpose, known as the
quill-pen cutter. These cutters are now and then met with in old desks,
where they have lain unused for many years.

Quill-pen making was an important industry until the invention of the
steel pen, and the quality of the quill was a matter of importance to
the scribe. In a trader's circular dated 1820 there is notice of the
Royal Appointment of a Liverpool maker, who was authorized to exercise
and enjoy all the rights, profits, privileges, and advantages of his
appointment of Pen Cutter and Quill Dresser to His Majesty King George
IV. In the same circular it is stated that the quill pens supplied were
of varying qualities, secured from the swan, raven, goose, turkey, crow,
and duck.

Sealing correspondence was a necessity before gummed envelopes were
invented. Then sealing-wax was in daily use on the writing table, and
the signet ring or seal was requisitioned. The outfit of a library table
would scarcely be complete without wax, wafer irons, and seals. One of
the curios found now and then in old desks is a little cutting
instrument useful in removing seals or opening letters which had been
sealed. In the days before penny postage letters were sent carriage
forward, and the postage which had to be paid on