The Printers' Guide. Or an Introduction to the Art of Printing….
NY, 1818. Printed and Published by C.S. Van Winkle. 4 x 6 1/2. Folding plate, xii (title, contents, preface; page v is also numbered 1*); 2, (13)-229 plus one plate of proof marks. Plus two foundry type Specimens: E. White (34) pp and D&G Bruce (22) pages. Recent full mottled calf, leather spine labels with gilt rule. Contents clean, little toning to paper much better than usual. Near fine. Item #18762
The first American printers' manual, by an American. Following the manual there are two type specimens from E. White and D. & G. Bruce foundries. Rare, one auction record for the last 25 years. JPHS 4, E10; PaGA Vol. 5 No. 2, p. .28
The first printers' manual with an American focus. Several pages list the prices agreed on by the Master Printers of NY in September 1815, for various kinds of printing. Van Winkle also gives the wages for various employees, agreed on in October 1817. These are very detailed and depend upon the worker's status, type of work, size of the type, language being set, length of the work, etc. Together they give a good picture of the printing trade in the U. S. during the hand press era. There is a lengthy & useful glossary of technical terms. The text concludes with "infomercials" for local printers' supply, ink, & paper companies, and the two type foundry specimens. Van Winkle recommends the Columbian Press and mentions Ramage's brand new Ruthven Press operating in Philadelphia.
Price: $22,500.00