A vintage printing catalog that reveals classic type faces, ornaments, and office requisites for the letterpress era.
This edition presents a condensed specimen book from a historic Boston foundry, showing a range of type styles, sizes, and practical items used in printing offices. The pages include metal and wood type offerings, borders, fillers, and equipment, all described with prices and catalog references. It gives a window into how printers organized and selected type for books, newspapers, and general job work.
Readers will see the variety of faces—from Roman and Gothic styles to ornamented lines—and the ways inks, cases, chases, and space rules were described for shop use. The catalog also notes the availability of copper-faced “hard metal” type and other printed-office necessities, reflecting the craft and trade practices of the time.
- A snapshot of type families and naming conventions used in 19th-century foundries
- Illustrations of prices, founts, and layout options for book, job, and newspaper work
- Details on equipment and furniture for the complete printing office
- Historical context on type production and shop organization
Ideal for readers of printing history, typography enthusiasts, and collectors of trade ephemera.