The American Chap-Book. Volumes I and II.
Jersey City: American Type Founders, September 1904 to August 1905. Complete set of 12 numbers (4 1/4 x 7). Printed in colors, in Bradley's type faces, adorned with Bradley's Arts & Crafts cuts. Bound in decorated boards with specially designed endpapers and printed cover labels. These have been sewn into what appears to be the original cloth chemise with spine label. There is no slipcase. With a prospectus and two supplements. The first Supplement (September 1904) is loose, as issued. The second Supplement is bound in with October 1904. Chemise has some wear; Chap-Books are near fine. Bookplate of Frank T. Hull, a printer. Item #7389
The Chap-Books were issued in wraps for 10 cents each, or $1 for the year. Copies in these decorated boards were 25 cents each, or $3 a year. They are rarely found in fine condition.
Will Bradley designed two series of ornaments for these-- the Chap-Book Cuts and Mission Toys. He devoted each issue to a typographic topic: Use of Borders & Ornaments, Cover Designs, Title Pages, Appropriateness, Value of Little Things, Business Cards, Brass Rule. The July 1905 issue of "Booklets" contains 2 tipped-in tiny specimen booklets.
Grolier Club 100 Books Famous in Typography #47.
Price: $2,000.00