B M EDO T37 
 
■ 
 
^i:-.^"-^ 
 
■J^'l 
 
 SOME EARLY 
 
 TYPE SPECIMEN BOOKS 
 
 ENGLAND, 
 
 HOLLAND, FRANCE, ITALY, 
 
 AND GERMANY. 
 
 CATALOGUED BY 
 
 WILLIAM BLADES, 
 
 ^YITH 
 
 EXPLANATOEY EEMAEKS. 
 
 • \Jvl\'o 
 
 geprintcb from the ''fviutcts' igcgisttx 
 
 LONDON 
 
 1875. 
 
 /^>ir 
 

 ...rvARt 
 
 scaooi 
 
 
EARLY TYPE SPECIMEN BOOKS. 
 
 Information upou Early Type Specimen Books is only to 
 be obtaiued from the books themselves, and as they are very 
 seldom to be met A\dtli, I feel that the many imi)erf ectious of 
 the following sketch will be readily excused. At the same 
 time it is urgently requested that any reader who may be 
 able to add to, or correct, the information here given will 
 favour the writer with a communication. 
 
 Books have their fates as well as nations, and the certain 
 doom of many a fair volume is utter destruction. Those of 
 an ephemeral character, or such as soon become obsolete, 
 have to pass through what, with literal truth, may be called 
 3l fiery ordeal. That is when they become too antiquated to 
 be of any value to the current generation and yet require a 
 century to pass over theu' heads before they have any merit 
 in the eyes of the antiquarian. Perhapg no class of books 
 is more subject to this unkind destiny than the specimens 
 issued by Type-founders, which soon become so worthless 
 in the very eyes of their own parents, that large editions 
 entu'ely disappear and "leave no track behind," even in 
 the veiy foundries which gave birth to them. I imagine it 
 to be as ti-ue of the Continental as it is of the old Englivsh 
 foundries, that not one of them can show a coj)y of their 
 first si)ecimen books. It may therefore be of some interest 
 to make a note of such specimens anterior to the year 1820 
 as I have been able to meet with, confimng myself to those 
 issued in our own country. 
 
 When pi-inters were their ow^ type-founders their works 
 were their own ty[3e-specimens ; but soon after the spread 
 of the art through Europe printers were found who were 
 willing to cut punches and cast for their brethren. When 
 William Caxton, about 1J:76, erected his press just outside 
 
 B 
 
 M 3923 
 
.tiie.TY^lLs.of .the Abbey at Westmiuster, his whole stock of 
 .<J;^pe .*c6u^istecl/.of oiie fount of Great Primer — so tottering 
 were the steps of the infant art which was in after years 
 to rule the world ! This fount he purchased in the Low 
 Countries and brought vnth liim to England. When it 
 began to wear he procured a new fount of the same, with a 
 small fount of larger size for headings ; but whether Caxton 
 at any period of his career cast his own letter seems now 
 impossible to ascertain with any certainty. 
 
 The first positive notice we have of type-founding in 
 England is the fount of Saxon cut by John Day for Arch- 
 bishop Parker, and nsed in 1567. The next is foimd in a 
 Decree of the Star Chamber in 1637, restricting the 
 foundries in England to 'four, and further restricting each 
 master-founder to two apprentices and one boy " to pull off 
 the knots of metal hanging at the end of the letters when 
 they are first cast," cmd no more. At this period our native 
 types were very coarse, and we were far surpassed by the 
 Dutch, from whom, indeed, our founders often purchased 
 matrices, but even then could not cast so well. All the 
 specimens of type at this period were printed on sheets, as 
 a broadside ; and several, both English and Dutch, are in 
 the miscellaneous collection of John Bagiord in the British 
 Museum. The earliest, probably issued in the first half of 
 the seventeenth century, appears to be a Dutch specimen 
 printed for use in England. It consists of a complete 
 alphabet, upper and lower, of the following sizes, except 
 the first four, of which, on account of their size, three 
 letters only were given : — Fatt Cannon, French Cannon, 
 Lean Cannon, Two-Line English, Double Pica, Great 
 Primmer, English, Pica, Long Primmer, and Breverr. (.^/<-.) 
 
 The first dated type-specimen is a sheet of Moxon's, who 
 Avas the earliest English writer on the practice of type- 
 founding and printing. His sheet is headed thus : — 
 
 Proves of srn-ntl Sorts of Tjcttcrs Cast by Joseph Moxon. West- 
 minster. Printed by Joseph Moxon in Russel Street at the 
 siyne of the Atlas, 1669. 
 
 The founts shown are Great Cannon Romain, Double 
 Pica and Great Primmer llomain, English Komain and 
 Italica, and the same for Pica, Long Priunner, and Brevier, 
 
two small flowers for borders completing tlie list. All tlie 
 types are poor iu face and nneven in line, not at all coming 
 up to those of the contemporary Dutch founders, Cliristopher 
 van Dijk or Yoskens, whose specimens are also in the same 
 collection. Yet Moxon could tell the whole world how 
 types should be shaped, and seven years later issued the 
 following work, of which copies are now very rare : — 
 
 Regulce trium Ordinum Littcrannii Tijpo<irap]iic(iruin : or the 
 Rules of the Three Orders of Print Letters; viz., the Roman, 
 Italick, and Englisli; Capitals and Small. 4:to., London, 167fi. 
 
 At the end of the volume are thirty-eight engraved plates 
 of Alphabets, each letter made of ''geometrick figures" 
 showing the true shape which type-founders and others 
 should adopt. It is this rigid adherence to rule and mea- 
 sure which has deprived Moxon's types of any approach to 
 artistic excellence. 
 
 The next English specimen proceeded from Oxford, to 
 which learned University Dr. John Fell and Mr. F. Junius 
 gave a considerable foundry, with all the tools and appli- 
 ances. This is the heading : — 
 
 A Specimen of the Several Sorts of Letter given to the University 
 hy Dr. John Fell,* sometime Lord Bishop of Oxford. To which 
 is added the Letter given hy Mr. F. Junius. Printed at the 
 Theater, Oxford, A.D. 1695. 
 
 This was j^ublished as a half-sheet 8vo. , and at the end is 
 a catalogue of the numerous "punchions," moulds, and 
 matrices which form part of the gift. They are still pre- 
 served at the Clarendon Press, Oxford. The same press 
 issued the following : — 
 
 A Specimen of Several Sorts of Printing Types belonging to the 
 
 University of Oxford, at the Clarendon Printing House. 4:to. 
 
 1768. 
 
 In this specimen we have not only the letter cast by the 
 
 University in their own foundry, but several founts of 
 
 Roman and Italic purchased in London of Caslon I. 
 
 * This is the Doctor upon whom the well-knowu lines were written 
 I do not love thee, Dr. Fell — 
 The reason whj- I cannot tell; 
 Hut this alone I know full well. 
 I do not love thee, Dr. ¥e\\. 
 
6 
 
 As already seen, English typ6-founding was in a very 
 depressed state until an accidental circumstance induced 
 the first Mr. Caslon to try his hand at punch-cutting. This 
 was in 1720, upon a fount of Arabic for the Society for 
 Promoting Christian Knowledge, and his complete success 
 in this determined his future life. He started an infant 
 foundry, cutting his punches with his own hand, and in 
 1734 published the following as a Large Post Broadside : — 
 
 A Specimen by William Caslon, Letter Founder in CJiisu-eJI 
 Street, London. 
 
 This sheet is very interesting as showing from what a 
 small commencement this celebrated foundry took its rise. 
 The followdng is a complete list of the founts : — Titling 
 Letter : Capitals only, 7 sizes. Roman : ranging from 
 French Canon to Pearl, each with its Italic, 14 founts. 
 Black Letter : only Pica and Brevier. Saxon : Pica and 
 Long Primer. Greek : English, Pica, Long Primer, and 
 Brevier, 4 founts. Hebrew : 2 founts — one with points. 
 Eastern : Gothic, Coptic, Armenian, and Samaritan, 1 fount 
 Pica of each. Syriac and Arabic, 1 fount English of each. 
 This makes a total of 38 founts all told, not including 7 
 varieties of flowers. The date at foot of the sheet is 1734. 
 In the Chiswell Street foundry is preserved an interesting 
 oil painting, three-quarter length, representing Caslon I. 
 with this very specimen-sheet in his hand. We must not 
 dismiss this patriarchial specimen without noticing the 
 well-known oration — " Quousque tandem abutere, Catalina, 
 patientia nostra?" Many a printer has wondered why all 
 the English founders for nearly a century adopted this 
 speech for the display of their book-founts. It was a 
 favourite quotation in the House of Commons at a time 
 when a spice of Latin in the speech of a member was 
 supposed to show a classical education, and was used for the 
 first time in this specimen-sheet in 1734. Although the 
 beautiful faces in all our modern foundries are now, from 
 their very number and excellence, a source of some embar- 
 rassment to the master-i)rinter, it was at that time, when 
 there were few artistically-cut types, considered a matter of 
 great imp(n-tance to obtain a fount of letter both well cut 
 and well cast ; and the learned author Avould often take the 
 
arm of liis learned printer, and examine, in the sanctum of 
 the t;vT.3e-founder, the smoke-proofs of his newly-cnt 
 punches, tlie excellence of which would be of mutual 
 advantage. Prol^ably on such an occasion was the long 
 used "Quousque tandem" suggested to Mr. Caslon, who 
 was quite alive to the fact that all types show better in 
 Latin than in English. 
 
 In 17J:3 the Harlem firm of Isaac and John Enschede 
 originated the plan of presenting then- patrons with a well- 
 bound and well-printed volume, in which their types were 
 advantageously displayed. In 1764 Mr. Caslon, ^who had 
 then taken his son into partnership, issued the first type- 
 sjoecimen book seen in England in the same form. Its title 
 is as follows : — 
 
 A Specimen of Printing Types by William Cdslon and Son. 
 Printed by Dryden Leach. London, 1764. 
 
 At the end is : "This new foundry was begun in the year 
 1720, and finished 1763 ; and wall (with God's leave) be 
 carried on, improved, and enlarged by William Caslon and 
 Sou, Letter Founders, in London." 
 
 Two years later Caslon I. died, and the same year the 
 following book was issued in 8vo. by Caslon II. : — 
 
 A Specimen of Printiny 'Types by ll^illiam Caslon, Letter 
 Founder, Printed by John Towers. Sro. London, 1766. 
 
 This, and the reprint given by Luckombe in his "History 
 of Printing," p. 133, are sometimes mistaken for the issue 
 of Caslon I. They were succeeded by ; — 
 
 A Specimen of Printing Types by William Caslon, Letter Founder 
 to His Majesty. London : 1785. 
 
 This was on two sheets of Large Post Folio in double 
 column, and of course issued by 'Caslon II. 
 
 Leaving the Caslons, I will only just mention the foundry 
 established about 1750 by the famous Baskerville of Bir- 
 mingham. It is doubtful whether any specimen-book was 
 issued; and after a short but most brilliant career the 
 whole plant was sold to Beaumarchais, who wished to print 
 Voltaii-e's works from Baskei-ville ty^Des. It was afterwards 
 removed to Paris, and was probably absorbed by mie of the 
 
8 
 
 large Parisian foundries. It would be interesting to 
 printers on both sides of the English Channel to know the 
 ultimate fate of these favourite founts ; and I am sure a 
 few lines from any one who has the information would find 
 welcome acceptance from the editor of either Ijlmprimerie 
 or Typologie Tucker'. 
 
 In 1710 Thomas James, son of the Vicar of Basingstoke, 
 began a foundry with a set of matrices, which with great 
 difficulty he obtained from Holland. His letters concerning 
 this transaction are most amusing and are published by 
 Rowe Mores in his "Dissertation." His son continued the 
 business in Bartholomew-close, but in 1782 the wliole plant 
 was sold by auction and a specimen issued as follows : — 
 
 A Catalogue and Specimen of Mr. Jameses Type-foundry im- 
 proved by Edicard Rowe Mores. 8vo. London, 1782. 
 
 I have not been able to see a copy of this Catalogue. 
 
 Specimen of Printiny Types by John Baine. Svo., Edinburyh, 
 1787. 
 With which, as the two foundries had a common origin, we 
 ■will mention — 
 
 A Specimen of Printing Types cast in the Letter Foundry of 
 Alexander IJ^ilson tO Sons, ito., Glasgow, 1789. 
 
 Passing by the early biographical particulars in the lives 
 of John Baine and Alexander Wilson, suffice it to say that, 
 struck with the idea of improving the art of Printing by a 
 new stereotyping process, they joined partnership in a type- 
 foundry, which was started in St. Andrew's, Scotland, in 
 17-12, being the fu'st in that country. There is little doubt 
 that a specimen-sheet of Wilson & Baine was issued, as 
 their foundry was soon in full work, and supplied the best 
 printers in Scotland ; but no copy has yet come under my 
 notice. In 1744 they removed to Glasgow, where facilities 
 for trade were gi-eater. In 1747 Mr. Baine went to Dublin 
 Avith the intention of establishing there a branch business. 
 In 1719 the partnership was dissolved, Mr. Wilson remain- 
 ing at Glasgow, where those beautiful types were produced 
 which hixve gained a European renown for the press of the 
 Foulis Brothers. INIr. Bame came back to Scotland and 
 settled at Edinburgh, from which city the specimen 
 
9 
 
 mentioued by Rowe Mores as being "very pretty " must 
 have been issued. About 1777 he went over to America, in 
 which country he died. On the death of Mr. Wilson the 
 GLasgow foundry was carried on by his two sons, and in 
 1830 descended to the grandson, Alexander Wilson, and in 
 1850 became incorporated with the Caslon Foundry. Mr. 
 Wilson removed to London, and on the 7th Xovember, 
 1874, departed this life. 
 
 Specimen of Printinfj Types hy Vincent Fhiyina, Letter Founder, 
 Swan Yard, Holborn Bridye, London, 1793. Printed by 
 T. Bensiey. 8vo. 
 
 Looking at the world-wide fame of the present foundry 
 of Messrs. Vincent and James Figgins, this, the fli-st 
 specimen-book issued by the founder of the firm, has great 
 interest. I have never heard of another copy, and that 
 now before me appears to be imperfect, wanting apparently 
 two or three leaves of Roman types, probably taken out for 
 trade use by the original owner, John Nichols, the learned 
 printer. There seem to have been only seven founts of 
 Roman and thirty-one founts of Hebrew, Greek, iEthiopic, 
 Samaritan, and Saxon. These Eastern types always made 
 a great show in the early foundries, whether English or 
 foreign, and suggest a very different class of book- work to 
 that now prevalent. The following sentences from the 
 preface will be read with interest: — "Yincext Figgixs 
 having had the advantage of ten years' instruction and 
 servitude under the late ingenious Mr. Josejjh Jackson 
 (great part of which time he had the management of his 
 foundry), flatters himself he shall not be thought arrogant 
 in soliciting the patronage of the Master Printers and 
 other literary gentlemen when he informs them that he has 
 commenced an entire new Letter Foundry ; every branch 
 of which, with their sui:)port and encouragement, he hopes 
 he shall be enabled to execute in the most accurate and 
 satisfactory manner ; assuring them that his best endeavours 
 shall be exerted to complete so arduous an undertaking. 
 Although as yet he has but few founts finished, he is 
 anxious to submit a specimen for approbation. All orders 
 he may be favoiu'ed with shall be duly attended to and 
 
10 
 
 punctually executed. The italics of the follomug founts, 
 with a Long Primer, Brevier, and English, are in great 
 forwardness. 
 
 The Mr. Jackson mentioned above was an apprentice of 
 Caslon I., and a very good punch-cutter, who began 
 business as a type-founder in 1763. He was continually 
 adding to his foundry, which eventually was very extensive. 
 In 1790 the premises, which were in Cock-lane, near Smith- 
 field, were destroyed by fire ; and although to a great 
 extent they were re-instated in the course of two years, Mr. 
 Jackson never recovered from the shock, and died in 1792. 
 Mr. Figgins then began business on his own account in 
 Swan-yard, Holborn, and soon made his foundry famous 
 by many beautiful specimens. (See Nichol's Lit. Anec- 
 dotes, p. 361.) 
 
 Specimen of Prhitiufi Types hij Joseph Fry (ind Sons. 4to., 
 
 London, 1795. 
 Specimen of Metal Cast Ornaments curiously adjusted to paper, 
 
 by Edmund Fry and Isaac Steele, Letter Founders to the 
 
 Prince of Wales. London, 1794. 
 Specimen of Priutiny Types by Fry and Steele, Type Founders 
 
 to the Prince of Wales, Type Street. 8vo. London, 1795. 
 Specimen of Printiny Types by Edmund Fry, Letter Founder to 
 
 the Kiny and Prince Regent, Type Street. 8ro. London, 1810. 
 Specimen of Printiny Types by Edmund Fry, Letter Founder to 
 
 the Kiny and Prince Reyent, Type Street. 8ro. London, 1824. 
 
 In 1764 a foundry was begun m Type Street, Chiswell 
 Street by Fry and Pine, their founts being imitations of 
 those cut by Baskerville. In 1785 the firm was Joseph Fry ; 
 in 1794, Fry and Steele ; in 1816, Edmund Fry ; and in 
 1823, Edmund Fry and Son. Although the "ornaments 
 curiously adjusted to paper" are very coarse to the eyes of 
 modern printers, the types are very good and pleasuig. 
 What became of this foundry ? 
 
 Specimen of Improved Printiny Types. Robert Thome. London, 
 1803. 
 
 Mr. Thorne was also an apprentice of Mr. Jackson's, and 
 carried on a successful foundry in the Barbican, which he 
 afterwards removed to Fann Street. To this founder is 
 
11 
 
 chiefly owing the introduction of very fat-faced letters. 
 Upon his death, about 1824, his business was purchased by 
 Mr. Thorowgood. The firm was in 18J:4 Robert Besley 
 and Co., and is now Reed and Fox. 
 
 Specimen of Printing Typei^ hi/ W. Caslou and Son, Letter 
 Founder!^ to the Kin;!. Lo>i(h))i, 1803. 
 
 Shortly before 1792, William Caslon, grandson to the 
 original founder of the house, seceded from the firm, and 
 liaving, upon the death of the Mr. Jackson, noticed above, 
 purchased at public auction his entire j^lant, he removed 
 it to Finsbury-square, where he carried on a very successful 
 trade, especially in the ornamental part of type-founding. 
 He was the first to be honoured with the Royal appoint- 
 ment, and is stated by Hansard to have produced in 1785 
 the best specimen seen up to that period. His son, whom 
 we may call Caslon IV., was in partnership with him in 
 1803, and succeeded entirely to the business in 1807. In 
 1819 the whole j^lant was disjDOsed of to Messrs. Blake and 
 Co., of Sheffield, and removed to that town, where it 
 formed the foundation of that celebrated foundry. 
 
 To dissect these different foundries, to describe the 
 change of taste and fashion, and especially to narrate the 
 causes which gave birth to many of the founts, would, 
 however interesting, be too long a task and embrace no in- 
 considerable portion of the literary history of the eighteenth 
 century. There are many interesting specimen-books which 
 I have been unable to obtain, and I conclude this portion 
 of the subject with an earnest request, especially to old- 
 established country printers, to look at their specimens, and 
 to be good enough to inform me of any they may possess 
 differing either in name or edition from those already noted ; 
 a favour which will be gratefully acknowledged. 
 
 American Specimen Books. 
 
 Christopher Lower, a German, living in Germantowai, 
 Pennsylvania, cast German types and printed the Bible and 
 other works in the German language about 1735. His 
 foundry and j)rinting-office appear to have died with him. 
 A foundry at Boston by Mr. Mitchelson, from Scotland, 
 
12 
 
 and another by Mr. Bner in Connecticut, were alike un- 
 successful. In 1775 Dr. Franklin brought from France to 
 Philadelphia the materials for a foundry, but no use was 
 made of them, and they finally came into the possession of 
 Messrs. Binney and Ronaldson. 
 
 We have already mentioned John Baine, the Edinburgh 
 type-founder. Upon the close of the revolutionary war, he 
 sent a foundry over to Philadelphia under the charge of a 
 relative, probably his grandson, and soon after followed in 
 propria persona. This was the first regular type-foundry 
 in the United States. 
 
 Baine died in 1790, and his grandson returned to England. 
 It seems probable that a sj)ecimen book or sheet of this 
 foundry, which was in successful work for about fifteen 
 years, was issued, but I cannot hear of any. Indeed, the 
 only one I have met with in the eigthteenth century is the 
 following : — 
 
 Specimen of Types by Isaiah Thomas, -ito, Worcester, 3Iass., 
 1785. 
 
 This title is taken from the Catalogue of the Library of 
 the American Antiquarian Society, a Society founded by 
 Isaiah Thomas, who presented to it his own extensive 
 library. Even this is, in all probability only a specimen 
 of imported ty[3es, as Thomas does not aj^pear to have been 
 a founder further than casting for himself particular sorts 
 when urgently required. 
 
 The following titles are also from the same Catalogue :— 
 
 Specimen of Printing Types by J. Ronaldson. 8vo. Phila- 
 delphia, isiG. 
 
 This firm started in 1728 as Binney and Ronaldson, and 
 issued their first specimen-book in 1812. It was subse- 
 quently famous as the Johnson Foundry, and is now under 
 the management of MacKellar, Smiths and Jordan. 
 
 Specime)i of Printing Types by E. White. 8ro. Neic Yorh, 1817. 
 
 Eliliu Wliite was one of the earliest type-founders in the 
 United States. He began to found at New York in 1810, 
 and soon after established foundries both in Cincinnati and 
 Buffixlo. The business being very successful partners were 
 taken in, and in 1835 a beautiful specimen-book was issued 
 
13 
 
 under the firm of "Wliite, Hagar and Co., now trading as 
 Hagar and Co. 
 
 Specimen of Printing Typex by Da fid and Georye Brace. 8fo., 
 New York, 1818. 
 
 The first specimen-book of this firm was issued in 1 815, 
 and according to Ringwalt's Encyclopaedia, consisted of 
 only fifteen plain faces ranging from Pearl to Great Primer. 
 George Bruce was the first to introduce the newspaper size 
 called by Americans "Agate," which comes between Non- 
 pareil and Pearl. 
 
 Perhaps some of our Tyi30graphic brethren in America 
 will favour us with an accurate transcript of the titles of 
 their early specimens and a resumt^ of their contents. 
 
 Foreign Speci^ien Books. 
 
 We have now to notice some specimens published in 
 various parts of the Continent, many of them intimately 
 connected with the History of Printing in England. 
 
 It is puzzling to find that several of the earliest sheets of 
 types give no intimation whatever of the founder or where 
 the printer (for whose use they must have been issued) 
 might obtain them. Such is a Large Post broadside in the 
 Bagford collection, where one Roman and Italic alphabet 
 and one fount of black are spread out to cover the whole 
 sheet. This seems very early and is probably Dutch. As 
 guess-work, however, is very unsatisfactory, we will describe 
 no more nameless specimens (of which there are several in 
 the same collection), but pass on to the earliest we have 
 seen with a fixed date : — 
 
 Typorum et Characteruni officime Chalcograplicce, Georgii- 
 Leopoldi Fnlirmanni * * * designatio. 4fo. Ntirejnberga, 
 1616. 
 
 "A representation of the types and characters in the 
 printing ofiice of G. L. Fuhrmann." The introduction 
 gives an account of the origin of printing and the names of 
 its greatest benefactors, followed by the ' ' Printers' Com- 
 plaint," in Latin verse, by the celebrated H. Stephanus. 
 The founts comprise six sizes of Black, ten of Roman and 
 Italic, two Greek, four Music, with Initials and Ornaments. 
 
u 
 
 Fuhrmann was a well-known printer in Nurenberg, and 
 tliere is a curious cut on the title-i3age showing the interior 
 of his press-room, Avith a large broadsword hanging on the 
 side of the press. What a modern pressman would do 
 with such a bar, screw, frisket and tympan as are here 
 displayed, I cannot imagine. Near the press is a kind of 
 clothes-horse with moveable poles, and sheets hanging on 
 them to dry. 
 
 Indice de Caniterri esisteiiti nella Stainpa Vaticana. 4?o. In 
 Roma, 1628. 
 
 This is a si3ecimen-book of all the founts then in the 
 foundry and printing office of the Vatican, edited by 
 Cardinal Barbermo. Considering the coarse paper, the 
 impression is very good, and displays twenty-three Archaic 
 alphabets, such as Samaritan, Rabbinical, &c,, thirty-six 
 Koman and Italic, only one Hebrew, six Greek, and four 
 Music. As might be expected, there are no fancy letters 
 nor blacks, and not even titling or illuminated capitals. 
 The whole were cast in the Papal foundry, many of them 
 puiposely for the Missionaries of the Propaganda. My 
 copy has the following autograph: — " Domus Prof. Rom. 
 Soc. Jesu B. Com.," showing that it belonged once to the 
 Jesuit College at Rome. The celebrated Bodoni learnt his 
 art in this printing office. 
 
 Proeven can Letteren die (jesneden zijn door Wtjlen ChristoJfCJ 
 van Dijck, ivelke <je(joten loerden by Jan Bus, ten huyse van 
 .S'*. Joaepli Atliias, woonst in de Sicanenhurcj-straet, tot 
 Amsterdam, (ante 1700). 
 
 A Demy Broadside exliibiting in four columns five founts 
 Titling, sixteen Roman and Italic, eight Black, and two 
 Music. These were all cut by Van Dijck and cast in the 
 foundry of Jos. xithias by John Bus. Christopher van 
 Dijck had a European fame in the seventeenth century 
 as an artistic punch-cutter. Although sober, practical old 
 Moxon was a long way behind in his own attempts at 
 that art, one can sympathise with the hearty and simple 
 admiration he expresses for artistic beauty in another. 
 Speaking of the letters cut by Van Dijck, he descants with 
 almost a lover's ardour upon the charms of their ''faces," 
 
15 
 
 with ''the true pliiciiig of tiieii- fats and their leans," and 
 ' ' the sweet driving them mto one another, and indeed all 
 the accomplishments wliich could render letter regular 
 and beautiful." Van Dijck was an independent punch- 
 cutter, and worked for various founders, some of whom 
 were unable to do justice to his punches, either in striking 
 the matrices or casting the letter. So Athias, in this 
 specimen, mentions John Bus, to prove that matrices and 
 moulds were by a skilful workman.. At that time the 
 Dutch made all theii- moulds of brass. Joseph Athias, 
 who gave so cold a reception to Mr. James when he 'wished 
 to buy matrices of him, and is described as "one of the 
 most sly and jealous people that ever I saw in my life," 
 was a Jewish Rabbi as well as Typefounder, Printer, and 
 Publisher at Amsterdam. He succeeded to the Elzevier 
 foundry, and in 1662-63 issued a celebrated edition of the 
 Old Testament, printed with the most beautiful Hebrew 
 typea till then seen, which were cut specially for that 
 purj^ose by Van Dijck. Upon the death of Athias the 
 foundry 23assed through several hands, and at last was 
 purchased in 1767 by John Enschede, of Haarlem, in 
 whose family it still remams. 
 
 There is another sheet in the British Museum, issued 
 about 1680, Tvdthout any name, giving four founts of 
 Titling, seventeen Roman and Italic, one Greek, eight 
 Dutch, and two Music. All are well cut, and at the foot is 
 a note intimating that other f Qunts may be had ' ' door C. 
 van Dyk, gesneden," i.e., cut by C. van Dijck. 
 
 Proeven van Letteren deicdcke <ie()ooteii warden by Mr. Johannes 
 
 Rolii, Lettu-Snyder icoonende tot Amsterdam in de laetste Lely 
 
 dwars-straet. c. 1710. 
 
 " Proofs of Types cast by Mr. John Rolu, Letter Cutter, 
 
 living at Amsterdam in the Laetste Lely dwars-straet. 
 
 This Broadside is interesting as bringing under our notice 
 
 the very Punch-cutter about whom Thomas James wrote 
 
 so curious an account to his brother when he went matrix 
 
 hunting at Amsterdam in 1710, and brought back mth him 
 
 thirty sets of matrices, which were used for a long time in 
 
 his London foundry. Mr. RoAve Mores sj^ells his name 
 
 Rolij, but in this specimen it is plainly Rolu. 
 
16 
 
 Pruef van Letteren die te hekonien zijn by de Wediave van 
 Joannis Adamsz. en Abraham Ente, Lettenjieter in de nuice 
 Leltj-straat in de Batavier, tot Amsterdam. (1700?) 
 
 This "proof " of types, cast by the widow of John 
 Adam's Son and Abraham Ente, makes two Large Post 
 broadsides, offering eighteen founts of Roman and Italic, 
 from Double Pica to Nonpareil. Although the faces are 
 well cut, this foundry does not seem to have ranked high, 
 for it is not mentioned by any writer as among the Amster- 
 dam foundries, which at that time were numerous. Mr. 
 James may have known it, as he speaks of visitmg all the 
 typefounders of ximsterdam, then the chief centre of the 
 art in Europe. Tempora mutantur — now I believe there 
 is not one. 
 
 Froeve der Drnkkerye van Mr. Abraham Elzevier, In sijn Leven 
 Drukker van de Universiteyt tot Leyden. 4:to. Leyden, 1713. 
 
 This was the sale catalogue of the celebrated printing- 
 office and type-foundry of Abraham Elzevier, the second 
 of that name, printer to the University of Leyden, who 
 died July 30th, 1712. He was the last of this family of 
 printers, and upon his death the foundry and printing-office 
 were sold by public auction ; but money being at that time 
 very scarce, the whole produced only 2,000 florins, and 
 passed into various hands. 
 
 Schrift-Frobe * * ivelclie in Herrn Bernhard Christoph 
 Breitkopfs Schriftgiesserey allluer befindlich sind. Sro. 
 Leipdy, 1739. 
 
 In the preface we read that "Men should note that in 
 this foundry of B. C. Breitkopf all the types have been 
 cut in steel," meaning, probably, that they engraved all 
 their own punches and did not buy strikes from other 
 founders. There are twenty-two founts of Gothic letter; 
 eight Titling Caps ; ten Roman, with an Italic to each ; two 
 Hebrew ; and three Greek. The names of the various 
 punch-cutters are mentioned, viz. , Joh : Peter Artopao ; 
 And. Koler, of Nurenberg; Christian Zingk, of Witten- 
 berg ; and Joh : Caspar Mliller, of Leipsig. * 
 
 * This notice by name of tlie artists to whom the credit is due for auy beauty 
 the types may possess is a custom much to be commended. 
 
17 
 
 Versamcling van een Party curiciise Lettcrcn * * * nayelaten 
 op de Drukkerij de Heer lludoJph Wetstein. -^to. Amsterdam, 
 1743. 
 
 This is a curious collection of types of all kiuds in the 
 printing-office of the late Rudolpli Wetstein. They were 
 sold on Wednesday, March 1743, in the Fleshmarket, 
 Amsterdam, together with the foundry which produced 
 them, to the brothers Enschede, who translated them to 
 Haarlem, where they foi-med the foundation of that cele- 
 brated foundry. 
 
 Schrift-Proben * * * u-ie solche zu Wittenhern in C. 
 Zinckens Giessereij, hctindlich sind. Svo., 1748. 
 
 This specimen of the types in the Zincken foundry at 
 Wittenberg is found in Gessner's " Buchdruckerkunst," 
 8vo. Leipsig, 1743. It contains thii'ty-three founts of 
 German, thirty of Roman and Italic, four Hebrew, four 
 Greek, and a few Eastern characters. Christian Zinck, as 
 already noted, cut some founts for the Breitkopf foundry. 
 
 Proef ctui Letteren, irelke (jegoten warden in de Nieiuoe Letter - 
 (lietenj van Izaak en Joh. Enschede te Haerlem. Svo. 1743. 
 
 This I take to be the earliest specimen-book issued by 
 this celebrated foundry, which is still in full vigoiu' at 
 Haerlem. The above title is adapted from the second 
 edition, as the title page in my copy of the first is 
 unfortunately wanting, although the wood-cut representing 
 Koster, and the original preface, are there. The latter refers 
 to the purchase of the Wetstem foundry as the foundation 
 of this. 
 
 Proef van Letteren, icelke (jecjoten warden in de Xieuwe Letter- 
 girtenj van Izaak en Joh. Enschede te Haerlem. Svo. 1748. 
 This, the second issue of the Enschede brothers, is 
 excellently printed and adorned with portraits. 
 
 Proef van Letteren, welke gerjoten tcorden in de Nieuice Letter- 
 
 gieteiy van Izaak en Joh. Enschede te Haerlem. Derde 
 
 Uytgave. Svo. 1757. 
 
 This "derde Uytgave," or third edition, has an mtroduction 
 
 of six pages, giving a short account of the foundry. An 
 
 engraved frontispiece, with Coster's bust on a pedestal. 
 
 c 
 
18 
 
 Les Caracteres cle VImprimerie par Founiier le Jexine. 8vo. 
 Paris, 1764. 
 
 A cliarming little volume of 170 leaves, containing a 
 great variety of founts, most of them cut by Fournier the 
 Elder. With the addition of preliminary and postliminary 
 matter, it formed the second volume of the "Manuel de 
 rimprimerie," published two years later by Fournier le 
 Jeune. Fournier's foundry was then the most ancient in 
 France. Guillaume le Be commenced it in 1552, and about 
 1561 purchased the "plant" of the celebrated Garamond. 
 It passed on with credit through the hands of Guillaume 
 le Be, the son, and G. de B^, the grandson, and was for 
 some time carried on by the widow of the last-named, who 
 died in 1707. Up to 1732 her four sons kept ujj the 
 business, and their manager was Fournier the elder, who was 
 an excellent punch-cutter and greatly increased the foundry. 
 Into his hands it eventually came, and descended to 
 Fournier le Jeune. 
 
 Epreuve des Caracteres qui se gravent et fondent dans la fonder ie 
 
 de J. F. Rosart. 2e edition. Avec portraits. 8vo. Bruxelles, 
 
 1768. 
 
 This specimen, which is in the Booksellers' Library, 
 
 Amsterdam, I have not seen, nor do I know the date of the 
 
 first edition. The foundry of J. F. Eosart was purchased 
 
 upon his death by the brothers Enschede. 
 
 Proef van Letteren * * * in de * * * Letter gietenj van J. 
 Enschede. Sro. Haarlem 1768. 
 
 This edition is illustrated with severa portraits — Coster, 
 the reputed inventor of Printing, Junius, the Historian, 
 John Enschede, and Fleischman, the celebrated punch- 
 cutter. There is a long preface recounting the origin of 
 the foundry, and we meet m the specimen an evident bid 
 for foreign orders, the names of the founts being placed 
 above each specimen in Dutch, German, French, and 
 English. 
 
 The same catalogue was reprinted in 1 773, with change 
 of date only. As the foundry at this time was in the 
 zenith of its fame, a short account of its rise and progress 
 may be acceptable. 
 
19 
 
 The death of Hendrik Wetstem, whose family for three 
 generations had been typefounders at Basle, led to the sale 
 of the whole plant, which was purchased by John Enschede 
 in 1743 and brought to Haarlem. At the same time the 
 services of one of the best punch -cutters Europe has ever 
 seen, John Michael Fleisehman, were secured, and the new 
 type-foundry at once started on a profitable and useful 
 career. In 1780 the foundry of Dirk Voskens (which 
 included that of J. Bleau, the celebrated printer and co- 
 worker of Tycho Brahe, was purchased. Shortly after the 
 foundries of Hendrik de Bruyn, of Van der Putte, of Van 
 der Welde, and of Uitwerf were absorbed, together with 
 the most celebrated of the minor foundries, that of Ploos 
 van Amstel, which included the foundries of Atliias, 
 Elzevier, and Jan Roman. John Enschede, the founder of 
 the house, was a successful man of business ; he was also 
 a bibliophile in the highest sense of the word. His great 
 auu was to collect a library which should throw light upon 
 the invention and early history of j)rinting. It is to be 
 regretted that he never carried out his intention of writing 
 such a histoiy, as from the collections he had made, and 
 from his own personal knowledge, we should probably have 
 had such a history of type-founders as would have solved 
 many difficult questions in the history of the early Press. 
 
 Specimen Charactentm in Neo-erecta Typorum Fusura Posonii 
 
 apud Joannem Micliaeleni Landerer Typo(irupkum existentium. 
 
 8i'o. Poson, 1770. 
 
 Whoever the punch-cutter was for these founts, they do 
 
 him no credit either for design or workmanship. Poson, or 
 
 Presburg, is the capital town of Lower Hungary. Printing 
 
 was not brought there till 1612, and even in 1646 there 
 
 were but three printing-offices in the whole of Hungary. 
 
 Manuale Tipografico ; del Cavaliere Giambattista Bodoni. 
 Ato. Parma, 1788. Another edition, 1818. 
 
 This is a wonderful specimen-book, whether as regards 
 the number of "faces," or the care and beauty displayed 
 in their execution. Of what are called "Fancy" types 
 there is not a single letter ; nor, as might be expected from 
 an Italian foundry, are there any "Blacks." The strength 
 
20 
 
 lies in the Roman and Italics, of which there are 144 
 founts, to which must be added 110 varieties of "Titling" 
 letters, or Roman caps only. There are 34 founts of Greek, 
 8 of Hebrew, 41 Eastern, such as Chaldaic, Arabic, &c. 
 &c., 22 Russian, 3 music, of which two are arranged for 
 double printing, i.e., the stave first and then the notes, 
 and, inlrahile dictu, no less than 1,036 varieties of flowers 
 for borders, &c. The Romans are all displayed by the use 
 of our old friend " Quousque tandem," which gives them a 
 familiar look. The best of the above founts were afterwards 
 used for the following work, which, having been printed 
 purposely to exhibit the capabilities of the Parmese 
 foundry, may well be included in our list : — 
 
 UOraUon Dominicale en 155 Laiuiues Orieutalcs et Lafines. 
 Folio, Parma. 1806. 
 
 Bodoni was very proud of this volume, which gives the 
 Lord's Prayer in 155 dififerent languages and founts. 
 *' When once," he says, "the connoisseur understands that 
 all these f(3unts have been cut and cast and printed by one 
 man, he will certainly be astonished ; and if anything can 
 be a recompense for the anxiety and loss of health such 
 work has entailed upon me, it is to believe that this volume 
 will some day be considered as one of the treasures and 
 most valued ornaments of the chief European libraries." 
 Truly that is the feeling that spurs a man on to do his 
 best. 
 
 Essai lie Caracteres Russes graven et fondii.'i par Jean Baptiste 
 Bodoni. Folio. Parma, 1782. 
 
 Twenty-two founts of Russian characters of various 
 sizes, including Titling letter, all of which were cut and 
 cast by the celebrated Bodoni. Printed as a special offer- 
 ing to the Emperor of Russia. 
 
 Proeve van Letteren ivelke gevonden werden ter Boek drukherije 
 van Herdingh en du Mortier, te Leyden. 8f'o. 1793. 
 
 From the title page, "A Specimen of the Types to be 
 found in the Printing-office of Herdingh and Du Mortier at 
 Leyden," one would not be disposed to reckon this as a 
 type-founder's book ; but an examination of the contents 
 
21 
 
 shows that the fii'in, as was often the case in HoUand, were 
 Printers as well as Fonnders. The specimens embrace 
 every variety of type then know^i, and are very good. 
 The numerous founts of Roman and Italic are numbered, 
 and have their names over them in four languages, of 
 which English is one — evidently a bid for English cus- 
 tomers. The " Address " at the beginning commences with 
 * ' See here ! cultivators of the Noble Ai't of Printing — see 
 for yourselves the state in which our ' Printery ' now is." 
 The whole plant was in after years united to the Haarlem 
 foundry, 
 
 Proevt' van eenuje nieuice Schriften, van eene nieuwe Snede ; 
 welke * * * gegooten worden op de Letter-gietery onder de 
 Fir ma Gehroeders Ploos van Amstel te Amsterdam. 8vo. 1796. 
 
 * ' Specimens of New Types with a new face, which have 
 been cast at the Letter-foundeiy of the brothers Ploos van 
 Amstel." In the early part of the eighteenth centiuy, 
 Isaac van der Putte, a tyj^je-founder, lived "over de Nieuwe 
 Kerk " at Amsterdam. His son succeeded him, upon whose 
 death, in 1767, the business was sold to the brothers Ploos- 
 van- Amstel, who issued a fine specimen of the foundry in 
 1784, which is referred to in the preface of the 1796 edition. 
 These founts are clean and shapely, but too numerous to 
 be catalogued here. Like so many others, this foundry 
 gravitated to Haarlem, and was finally absorbed by the 
 Enschede firm. 
 
 Specimen des nouveaux Caracterej de la Founderie * * * de P. 
 Didot VAine. 4fo. Paris, 1819. 
 
 These types are all cast to the new system of " bodies," 
 invented by M. Didot, and are regulated by typographical 
 points, the French " Ime " being divided into six points. 
 Twelve typographical points are very nearly equal to one 
 pica. 
 
 Feuille d'Epreuve de la Fonderie de Firmin Didot. Paris, 1820. 
 A sheet of Demy, showing the ncAv series of fat-faced 
 Roman and Italic, and a beautiful series of Scripts. 
 
 In the foregoing remarks I have fixed upon the year 
 1820 as a boundary line between the old and new style of 
 
22 
 
 punch-cutting. About that time great changes were 
 initiated in the faces of types of all kinds. The thick 
 strokes were made much thicker and the fine strokes much 
 finer, the old ligatures were abolished and a mechanical 
 primness given to the page, which, artistically, could 
 scarcely be called improvement. At the samo time printers 
 began to crowd theii* racks with fancy founts of all degrees of 
 grotesqueness, many painfully bad to the eye and unprofit- 
 able alike to founder and printer. The eye, like the palate, 
 may become accustomed to bad food, and even like it ; 
 certain it is that many modern founts, which offend every 
 rule of proportion and elegance, have had a good sale among 
 firinters. 
 
 In closing these remarks, I can only repeat how pleased I 
 shall be with any communications upon the subject of Old 
 Specimen Books. 
 
 WILLIAM BLADES 
 11, Abchurch Lane, Londox. 
 
 P. S. — Since the remarks upon the Caslon si3ecimen books 
 were written, the following interesting addition has been 
 made to my collection. 
 
 A Specimen of Printing Types, by WiUiam Caslon, Letter Founder 
 to the King. 8ro. London, 1798. 
 
 A Specimen of Cast Ornaments, by Wm. Caslon, Letter Founder 
 to the King. 8vo. London, 1798. 
 
 The above are bound together. The size is Demy 8vo. 
 They were printed by C. Wliittingham. The title-page of 
 the first has in this copy been ruthlessly torn away and 
 supplied in manuscript. 
 
23 
 
 Tliis foundry lias already been described (page 11) as an 
 ofifslioot from Cliiswell-street, and the foundation of the 
 great Sheffield foundiy of Stephenson, Blake, & Co. The 
 Roman and Italic founts are m the usual variety, but of 
 varying excellence, and not equal on the whole to the parent 
 house. The followuig is the preface, dated Salisbury- 
 square, 1798. " Sii', having completed my New Specimen, 
 I take this opportunity of sending you a copy, and flatter 
 myself it will meet with your approbation. I shall be 
 happy to receive your future orders, and you may be assured 
 of eveiy possible attention being paid to the execution of 
 those you may favour me with. I remain. Sir, your obedient 
 humble servant, Wm. Caslon. " The foundry originally in 
 Finsbury-square, where in later years the celebrated book- 
 seller, Lackington, had liis shop, was removed, shortly 
 before the issue of tliis specimen, to Salisbury-square. 
 The Cast Onaaments in the second portion of the book are 
 very good. 
 
 The following notes on the specimens in the libraiy of 
 the Antiquarian Society, Worcester, Mass., have been 
 kindly communicated by Mr. Barton, Assistant Librarian to 
 that mstitution. 
 
 A Specimen of Printimj Types by William Caslon d' Son, Letter 
 Founders in London. Printed by Dry den Leach, mdoclxiii. 
 
 This is a year earlier than that liitherto considered as the 
 first book of specunens issued m England. (See page 7). 
 
 A Specimen of Printing Types made by Joseph Fry cO So7is, 
 Letter Founders and Marking Instrument Makers. By the 
 King's Royal Letters Patent. London, 1790. 
 
 This is five years earlier than the issue noticed already at 
 page 10. 
 
 A Specimen of Printing Types, by John Baine dt Grandson in 
 Co., Letter Founders. Edinburgh, 1787. 
 
 This proves that Baine must have gone to Philadelpliia at 
 a period later than is suj^posed, and that he must have died 
 soon after his arrival, as the date of his decease was 1790. 
 
24 
 
 Specimen of Printing Type from the Letter Foundery of James 
 Ronaldson, Cedar, between Ninth and Tenth Streets. Phila- 
 delphia, 1816. 
 
 In the dedication to tlie printers of tlie United States, a 
 specimen book of 1812 is mentioned. Ai-cliibald Binney is 
 said to have left the establishment in August, 1815. 
 
 A Specimen of Printing Types from the Foundery of E. Wiiite, 
 New York. J. Seymour, Printer, No. 49, John-street, New 
 York, 1817. 
 
 A Specimen of Printing Types cast at tlie Foundry of D. d- G. 
 Bruce, in Chamber's New Chatham-street, New York, 1818. 
 
 These titles are given in full, having important variations 
 from the short titles already quoted from the catalogTie of 
 the Worcester Antiquarian Society. 
 
 W. B. 
 
 Printed by J. M. Powell, London. 
 
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