A Compend of the Origin and Growth of the Roman Letter in Reed's Old English Letter Foundries. (Cover Title). Specimens of the Jensen Old-Style Series (13 Sizes)With Initials and Page Embellishments.
(Boston, 1895). 11 3/4 x 8 3/4, self-wraps, 24 pages. Wraps a bit soiled, small piece missing from lower margin of front wrap, last 3 leaves have closed tears; a very good copy of this fragile and rare type specimen. It is bound into Cockerel marbled boards (fine cond.) with leather cover label. Item #1592
Magnificent showing of ATF's Jensen Type, decorated initials, and Kelmscott-style borders, that changed the face of American printing. Text is taken from Reed's work. Susan Thompson (pp. 211-212) Henry Bullen: "In 1895, a handsome twenty-four page large quarto specimen was issued, the composition by John B. Williams...It was not only a specimen of types, but a guide to better typography. The response of the printers was a complete surprise to the typefounders. No one typefoundry could supply the demand. The task was divided among three of them." Jensen was designed by Joseph Phinney, using original Jensen types as the model. The borders and ornaments were based on Morris' designs.
Only 3 copies on OCLC.
Price: $750.00