Specimens of Printing Types Made at Bruce's New York Type Foundry
New York: George Bruce's Son & Co., 1882.
First Edition. Hardcover (Quarter Leather). Very Good Condition. Item #049661
Original quarter leather, spine worn and dry, corners worn, joints a touch tender, but sound and intact. Printed on one side only, a few minor marginal tears from turning these double pages, title a bit browned in spots, otherwise unmarked internally. The typesetting and text is built around the history of printing using text from The Invention of Printing by Theodore Low de Vinne which Bruce's had printed in 1878 - a remarkable and charming conceit for a specimen book. Portrait frontis, 352, XVIpp.
Founded in 1813 by Scottish immigrant George Bruce, Bruce's Type Foundry began issuing specimen books under George's son in 1865 culminating in the 1882 book. Ten supplements were issued from 1883-1894. Bruce's merged with American Type Founders in 1901.
"probably the largest, most complete and finest typographical specimen book ever produced" .—La Cygne Journal (La Cygne, Kansas) April 29, 1882.
"The book has been made absolutely readable by the curiosity and propriety of the quotations. It swarms with typographical information…"—New York Daily Tribune February 5, 1882
quotes lifted from "Grolier Club talk—The Greatest Type Specimen Ever Made: The 1882 Bruce Foundry specimen" The Grolier Club on June 13, 2023. Size: Quarto (4to). Quantity Available: 1. Shipped Weight: 2-3 kilos. Category: Engineering, Industrial & Trades; Inventory No: 049661.
Price: $2,500.00