Comments on: Rare Type Specimens at the Open Library (2012 update)

By: Veronica

Veronica — Sun, 08 Apr 2012 03:32:48 +0000

I just found your site and going through these type specimen books is like poring over treasure…thank you so much for sharing them!!

By: Wei

Wei — Wed, 25 Jan 2012 08:14:16 +0000

Great list, there is collection of scans in the “Silver Buckle Collction” from the University of Wisconsin Digital Collection http://digicoll.library.wisc.edu/SilverBuckle/Browse.html

includes the following:

Add “punch” to your printing with Hamilton wood type. 1951
American line type book: borders and ornaments price list, printing machinery and material. 1906
ATF Spartan: medium and italic.
Automatic white space.
Bauer types in use.
The Blue Streak Linotypes: master models 31 & 32.
The Blue Streak Linotypes: model fourteen.
Hamilton printing plant equipment / manufactured by Hamilton Manufacturing Company. Hamilton Manufacturing Co. (Two Rivers, Wis.) ([1922-1932])
Instruction on installation, care and operation of the chandler & price 10×15 and 12×18 craftsman press with rice automatic feeder 1934. Chandler & Price company (1934)
[Letter from Ray C. Cook, sales director of Hamilton Manufacturing Company regarding Hamilton wood type catalog no. 25]. Cook, Ray C. (1951)
La lettre d’imprimerie: origine, développement, classification & 12 notices illustrées sur les arts du livre. Thibaudeau, F (1921)
La lettre d’imprimerie: origine, développement, classification & 12 notices illustrées sur les arts du livre. Thibaudeau, F (1921)
Linotype news. 1963
Nickel-alloy type: Keystone Type Foundry. 1906
The Nubian: a new fashion in types.
Price list of printing type and typographic material. Mackellar, Smiths & Jordan Co (1891)
The printing arts: selected from a detailed description of all guilds. Sachs, Hans, Ammann, Jost (1968)
Two-series modernage typography introduced by the American Type Founders Company.
Type specimen book. Democrat Printing Co. (Madison, Wis.) ([1940])
Types: fancy metal rules and metal furniture too.
Wood 2. Morgan Press ([1964])
Wood type. Hamilton Manufacturing Co (1938)
Wood type. 1897
Woodcock’s printers’ and lithographers’ weekly gazette. 1881
Woodtype: selective emphasis for fine typography. 1960

By: Mac

Mac — Mon, 06 Jun 2011 09:27:15 +0000

really great stuff. Didn’t know that there’s such a history in specimen books. Thanks

By: Stephen Saxe

Stephen Saxe — Mon, 13 Dec 2010 21:58:07 +0000

Julie,
ATF published several editions of the Desk Book from 1898 to 1901, all of them about the same trim size: 5-3/4″ x 8-1/2″, with from 1024 to 1186 pages. They were imprinted for various locations such as Chicago, New York, Philadelphia, etc. but they were all printed at the former MacKellar, Smiths & Jordan foundry in Philadelphia. None were printed in Chicago.
-Steve Saxe

By: Gary Barsch

Gary Barsch — Wed, 08 Sep 2010 10:13:22 +0000

Thank you very much. This site helps in my type research work.

By: Song

Song — Thu, 18 Jun 2009 13:17:37 +0000

it is the reason why i love digital life. it just narrow the gap between the rich and poor (of course i am poor). we can enjoy some thing like “Rare Type Specimens” which was only available for richs.

By: xavier

xavier — Wed, 04 Mar 2009 21:32:29 +0000

Does anyone know where I might borrow a copy of any of the actual Mackellar books so that I can scan a few pages at a much higher resolution than shown here (or, alternatively, pay a fortunate owner of such a treasure to scan some pages for me)? If I had an extra thousand bucks, I could find an original to buy (they appear once in awhile in online auctions but always with a huge reserve), but all I want is some scans. Anybody got any ideas? Thanks!!

Xavier
xwhys@yahoo.com

By: William Creswell

William Creswell — Mon, 25 Aug 2008 17:13:12 +0000

I have the same 1901 type book, “Twentieth Century Desk Book of Type and Printing Material”, as well. It’s a beautiful book. There was a copy on the Belgium Ebay about a month ago that sold for around $300 US. The copy I have, was purchased at a flea market this weekend. I got it for $25. It was originally priced at $250! I can’t find any info either. I’d like to scan it and put it online.

By: Julie Godinez

Julie Godinez — Tue, 22 Jul 2008 17:05:52 +0000

Hello!

I am trying to determine the rarity or importance of this reference but can find nothing to help me do that. Your link was very helpful learning more about AFT history, but it does not reference this book either.

Julie

By: Julie Godinez

Julie Godinez — Tue, 22 Jul 2008 16:53:09 +0000

Hello!

That is what I’m saying, it is driving me crazy! I find ATF specimen books for before and after that date, printed in Buffalo or New Jersey, but none for that date printed in Chicago.

Julie

By: ralfherrmann

ralfherrmann — Tue, 22 Jul 2008 16:38:04 +0000

I literally cannot find any informatio at all anywhere about this reference book.

What do you wan’t to know?
You might start here: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/American_Type_Founders
And also try the links at the bottom of this page.

By: Julie Godinez

Julie Godinez — Tue, 22 Jul 2008 16:34:45 +0000

Hello!

I have a copy of a type specimen book that I cannot find any information about. It is entitled, “Twentieth Century Desk Book of Type and Printing Material” by American Type Founders Co., dated 1900-1901 and printed in Chicago.

I literally cannot find any informatio at all anywhere about this reference book.

Thank you for your help!

Julie

By: Louis

Louis — Tue, 03 Jun 2008 02:18:44 +0000

The Type catalogues are great. There are more on the site.
the copy of the ATF 1923 catalogue on the site is not perfect.
I scanned my copy of the catalogue into a pdf file,it is quite karge.When I put it in cd disks I spread it over 5 disks. It is in color and is clear. some of the pages are a little crooked .
I tried to send it to the librarym but can’t figure out how to do it. Would you like a copy, ar can you help get it on the net..
Lou

By: AGL - Andre

AGL - Andre — Sun, 30 Mar 2008 12:25:08 +0000

I had no words on my previous comment, but I should have said: Thank You Half! You’r da man!

By: AGL - Andre

AGL - Andre — Wed, 19 Mar 2008 12:59:28 +0000

Oh God! Oh God! Oh God!