AMERICAN WOOD TYPE: 1828-1900
NOTES ON THE EVOLUTION OF DECORATED AND LARGE TYPES
Rob Roy Kelly

Rob Roy Kelly: AMERICAN WOOD TYPE: 1828-1900. NOTES ON THE EVOLUTION OF DECORATED AND LARGE TYPES. NYC: Van Nostrand Reinhold, 1969. First edition. A fine oversized hardcover book in full, decorated cloth in a near-fine dust jacket: white DJ shows a trace of rubbing and one small closed tear on the rear panel. Interior unmarked and clean. Out of print. An uncommon title, especially in this superior condition.

9.25 x 12.25 hardcover book with 350 pages and more than 600 styles of wood type, classified and shown by period. There are more than 100 specimens of complete or partial fonts, reproduced just as proofed, with all the imperfections to be expected. A magnificent reference. Highly recommended.

The immense book tells the complete story of wood type, beginning with the history of wood as a printing material, the development of decorated letters and the invention of machinery for mass-producing wood letters. Includes more than 600 styles of wood type, classified and shown by period. There are more than 100 specimens of complete or partial fonts, reproduced just as proofed, with all the imperfections to be expected. Each specimen is identified by name, degree of completeness, and date of marketing. There are also many other illustrations, some heretofore unpublished, others placed for the first time in their proper context of decorated and large letters. A precise bibliography includes a listing of all major wood type specimen books found in major American libraries.

Contents:

• Evolution of Display Type
• The Wood Type Industry in America in the 19th Century
• Wood Type Manufacture
• Competition Among the Wood Type Manufacturers
• Wood Type Styles
• Chronological Development of Wood Type Styles
• Competition Among the Related Trades
• Epilogue to the Wood Types
• Wood Type Specimens
• Bibliography
• Index

out of stock