A Specimen of Printing Types.

FRY, Joseph.

Edité par London: Joseph Fry and Sons, Letter-Founders, 1785

A scarce type specimen, including the first example of a Diamond 4pt Roman typeface printed in England, and various renditions of Arabic, Hebrew, and Samaritan fonts. In a varied career, the Bristolian Joseph Fry (1728-1787) began life as a physician, before setting up a type foundry in 1764 and finding time to found the storied Frys chocolate company in 1761. The type-foundry moved to London in 1773 and built up a solid practice, culminating in their receipt of a royal patent from George III by 1785. That year also marks the first appearance of these type specimens, which were issued in a range of formats: most authorities identify this broadside as appearing after the smaller octavo booklets. The broadside was also issued in Volume V of the 1786 edition of Chambers' Cyclopaedia. The Frys took inspiration for their "Diamond" four-point type from earlier versions produced in the Netherlands, but were careful to underline that theirs was "the smallest letter in the world", as it was able to fit considerably more text into a small space than Dutch examples. Berry & Johnson p. 40; ESTC T117880; Reed pp. 303-4. Single folio leaf, printed on both sides in black. Sheet size: 530 x 430 mm. Framed size: 666 x 537 mm. Presented in a dark wood frame with conservation acrylic glazing. Light browning and creasing, small paper infill and short closed tear to lower inner corner, neatly repaired, two tape repairs to upper margin verso a handful of small holes: still a very good copy of a fragile item. N° de réf. du vendeur 191113

Détails bibliographiques

Titre : A Specimen of Printing Types.
Éditeur : London: Joseph Fry and Sons, Letter-Founders, 1785
Edition : Edition originale