#printing specimens

[circa-obsolete]

ca. 1874

[glossahistorica]

Specimens of printing types : ornaments, borders, corners, rules, emblems, initials, &c. : MacKellar, Smiths & Jordan Co : Free Download, Bo

536 p. ; 24 cm

This week, I've been fascinated by type specimens, issued by type manufacturers for printers to use in their publications.

I'm in the process of laying out a website for some original fiction set in the mid-19th century, and I can't believe I didn't think to look to these in the past. They're really incredible.

Often in small units that can be combined to bigger designs, I'm struck by the potential for these in the hands of digital artists. There are, of course, already plenty of such artists who have turned them into stamps or vectors for people to use, but I did not realise these were the origins.

I've made a small list of some of my favourites on archive.org here, but the linked one - MacKellar, Smiths and Jordan Co's collection from 1891 - is one of my top faves. Please enjoy.

[newberryprinting]

A suitably colorful advertisement for printing inks by B. Smith & Son of London

Newberry call number: Wing Ephemera File, B. Smith & Son (London, England)