The realization and application of new technology is beginning to awe and enthrall me just as it must have the mediaeval monk, calmly creating an illuminated manuscript book with his quill pen, when the Gutenberg press appeared and disturbed the purpose and rhythm for ever. Instead of the possibility of producing, with conscientious toil, one document per year he was faced with a rival inanimate machine which could churn out 180 Bibles in that span of time. The difference between us is that the printing press was threatening the monk with redundancy and forcing him to consider throwing his ink pot and pen out of the nearest oriel window whereas to your editor, its modern equivalent, the Internet, is enabling her to discover endless interesting facts to impart to all of you in a single issue of the Journal! Whether surfing the net in search of rare Bibles, E-mailing far-flung contributors and faxing and telephoning those who have not yet quite caught up with the Web Age, modern technology is a friend and not a foe in the year 2000.
There have been exciting developments following intense use of this new tool. The story of Bill Cooper's identification of the provenance of the 1410 Wycliffe Bible, offered for sale by an American antiquarian book dealer, reads like a Sherlock Holmes detective story. Unfortunately, with my enthusiasm and Bill's academic detachment, we have, between us, probably increased the price of this manuscript even further than its already enormous asking price of one and a half million dollars! The Internet has enabled Joan Wilson, who has been a great help to me on this issue, to establish a new feature entitled 'Anglo-American Press Gleanings'. The tireless Neil Inglis in New York keeps her up to date with possible items and she edits them for publication. This issue also contains an E-mailed article from one of our American 'ploughboys' which is very encouraging and I hope will prompt other members on that continent to contribute also.
You will not be surprised to learn that an editor's life is never simple. On the article front in general there have been a few minor mishaps. A promised review failed to materialize as the reviewer mislaid the book' It is still uncertain as I write this if the picture of the book launch of The Tyndale 1526 New Testament (original spelling version edited by W.R. Cooper) at the British Library in London on July 4 will arrive in time. At least, you can read Chas Raw's excellent report on it and muse on the fact that this religious work outsold Harry Potter in the Library Bookshop during the first week of its publication. The saga of my successive laptop computers continues. This time model 3 has decided that it must not overwork — probably had high level consultations with the International Labour Organization based here in Geneva — anyway after about 40 minutes of hard work it 'Dtoles' on me. This involves a message appearing on the screen announcing that I have performed an illegal operation, contravened something called 'Dtole' and that it be must shut down immediately. I am reluctant to get this annoying fault repaired as it seems so Tyndalian! Luckily, all I have to do is to remove and replace my battery and start again, losing but a few precious minutes of editorial time: on the other hand, Tyndale, poor chap, when he received the 16th century equivalent of a 'Dtole' had to flee from printer's workshop in fear of his life with half finished pages or learn of the burning of his smuggled printed Bibles.
I urge you all to read the Journal carefully. There are meetings to go to both in England and America, articles to read and respond to, books and other items to buy. People have willingly provided me with copy and there are many new contributors amongst them, which is highly encouraging. I would still like our American and continental European readers to have a slightly higher profile but I am confident that this will happen. I wish you all a productive and informative autumn and many thanks for all the support you have given to make this issue a pleasure to edit.
Valerie Offord, August 2000