By the late 1880s, there were some 34 foundries in the united states. The american type founders company was the major american manufacturer of metal type from 1892, when the company was established, through the 1940s, and its influence continued for another two decades. Linotype made a dozen typewriter fonts for its typesetting machines, as did monotype, intertype and virtually all the other providers of metal type fonts. Atf type specimen book and catalogue 1923 briar press. Details about specimen book and catalogue, 1923 by american type founders.
Bradley s magazine, bradley, his book atfs 1923 specimen book explains that its goal is to discourage unhealthy competition in the printing industry. Putting the 1923 atf specimen book online is such a project. The american type founders 1923 specimen book and catalogue called the inspiration for this typeface engravers text. Benton also designed or codesigned several typefaces like bodoni and garamond. He had a couple of these specimen books, and, as i was a printing management major at the time, i was amazed as the craftsmanship. This led me to a digital copy of the 1923 american type founders atf. Many sample settings including ads and newspaper designs. The 1923 american type founders specimen book and catalog was the last comprehensive specimen book that atf ever issued, and very nearly the last truly large specimen book ever issued by an american foundry. American type founders, decorative material, c1907. And you can download it for free in fullcolor, highresolution pdfs from sevanti letterpress huge in both scope and size, the book contained over 1100 pages of type specimens and printed in full color.
Atf complete type specimen catalogue with page after page of instructional type layouts, huge cut library, letterpress type equipment, hard cover. Atf christmas ornaments circa 1923 the norlu press. Example from the american type founders companys specimen book and catalogue jersey city, 1923, showing playing card pips and draughts checkers men and kings. Checklist of type specimens san francisco public library. American type founders 1923 specimen book and catalogue. Dec 18, 2016 a highquality pdf of the complete 1923 edition of the american type founders atf specimen book. I remembered that there was a discussion about christmas borders and ornaments on the briar press website and was able to find it in the archive. Inland type foundry 1907, c1906 specimen book and catalogue, 1923. Reviewed in the united states on september 5, 2006. Atfs 1912 specimen book, showing news gothic on pages 698709. American type founders 1923 specimen book and catalogue flickr. A highquality pdf of the complete 1923 edition of the american type founders atf specimen book. There is a prevailing amateurish and inconsistent quality to these letters. Includes multiple pullouts demonstrating the different type sets available and how they can be used.
Contains some interesting info on the effects of industrialization on the type industry. A classic typographic resource, the 1923 edition of the american type founders specimen book and catalog, has been released for the first time ever in electronic format. A bevy of designs and sizes were offered in the 1923 american type founders company specimen book and catalog. This edition was published in 1923 by american type founders co. Perusing other atf catalogs revealed something peculiar, it appears that between 1909 and 1923 tiffany gothic got renamed to typo gothic. Goodreads helps you keep track of books you want to read. Published by createspace independent publishing platform 20 isbn 10. In the early 1920s, american type founders had come to dominate the huge metal foundry type market in the united states.
Specimen book and catalogue 1923 1923 edition open library. Considered by many to be the culmination of specimen printing, it is an important, and massive volume, documenting the culture of printing, advertising, and typography in the early 20th century. Specimen book and catalogue 1923 american type founders. The 1923 atf specimen book and catalogue is one of the finest type specimen books ever issued. Hplhstelegram is a detailed replica of the type used on real western union telegrams in the 1920s and 30s. There are some projects that need very much to be done. A slightly pompous introductory text in the weighty specimen makes a strong statement about atfs leadership in the creation of the first type. American type founders wikisource, the free online library. Di alberto durero della simmetria dei corpi humani, libri quattro. Start by marking specimen book and catalogue, 1923. Internet archive a highquality digitization of the complete 1923 edition of the american type founders atf specimen book.
Price list, printing material and machinery atf, 1906. The inline version of this font includes the complete 1252 latin and 1250 central european character sets. The norlu press history loving letterpress stationers and. American type founders company 1903 specimen book of type. Both versions of the font include 1252 latin, 1250 ce with localization for romanian and moldovan. Morris fuller benton november 30, 1872 june 30, 1948 was an american typeface designer who headed the design department of the american type founders atf, for which he was the chief type designer from 1900 to 1937.
Formed in 1892 as a consolidation of 23 of the most prominent independent type foundries in the us. American type founders 1923 specimen book and catalog. Frequently asked questions about fonts a brief history of type. It was also the last comprehensive specimen book put out by atf. Oct 06, 2010 specimen book and catalogue 1923 dedicated to the typographic art. Late specimen sheet of the caslon foundry from 1924. American specimen book of type styles, complete catalogue of printing machinery and printing materials, 1 p. Specimen book and catalog, american type founders, jersey city, new jersey, 1923, pp. By the original caslon company, inherited by william caslon ii. Specimen book and catalogue, 1923 by american type. It is especially strong in this foundrys early years. I cannot imagine the amount of time and labor it took to make this book. Books of the week the new antiquarian the blog of the. Atf price list 1934 american type founders, type specimen typography, design.
Type specimens, borders, decorative material, brass rules, printing machinery, etc. American type founders company 1923 specimen book of american line type faces. American type founders, legible sansserif types by bernhard, c1931. These two little art nouveau swirligigs are historicthe exact origindate are unknown, but they make a discreet appearance in the american type founders specimen book of 1923. The 1923 catalogue contains 1,148 pages of examples of typefaces, borders, decorative items, and printing presses, and other equipment. Aug 02, 20 hplhstimes gothic is revived and digitized from the 1923 american type founders specimen book. Nov 21, 2018 a highquality digitization of the complete 1923 edition of the american type founders atf specimen book. This page was last edited on 22 september 2020, at 21. Page 45 from the american type founders specimen book and catalogue, 1923. Also included are some interesting specimen books coming from such american city type foundries as the boston type foundry, the illinois type foundry, the cleveland type foundry, and the cincinnati type.
It was also the last comprehensive specimen book put out by. Though fred williams lists this as being introduced in 1925, it was shown in the 1923 catalog. News gothic samples are 472477 original page numbers. Over one thousand pages of handset type, printed letterpress, to showcase each type face made by the atf foundry in 1923. The 1923 atf specimen book and catalogue is reborn digital. Atfs 1923 specimen book their legendary last major specimen before the depression, showing news gothic and many related types.
Collection highlights type specimen books in special. Specimens and price list of brass type, borders, ornaments and brass rule for the use of bookbinders, boxmakers and advertising manufacturers. And you can download it for free in fullcolor, highresolution pdfs from sevanti letterpress. This group was directed by morris benton, the head of typeface development. Considered by many to be the culmination of specimen.
American type founders, book of american types, 1934. This page was last edited on 11 august 2020, at 16. The collection has several books from the american type founders atf conglomerate. American type founders was born of a merger of 23 type foundries in 1892.
By 1923, when atf issued its most ambitious type specimen book, the company was touting its preeminence in virtually every aspect of printing and type founding. To the best of my knowledge, it has not been digitized. Atf used them chromatically, with the open element overprinted in black on the pale orange tint element. American type founders 1923 specimen book and catalogue when i was in college, i met a friends uncle who was a retired engineer from harris. Franklin gothic and its related faces are a large family of sansserif typefaces in the industrial or grotesque style developed in the early years of the 20th century by the type foundry american type founders atf and credited to its head designer morris fuller benton. Look at how in the above specimen the s appears thinner then other letters like in the word lemons. American type founders company specimen book and catalogue, 1923. I am the owner of a 1923 copy of specimen book and catalogue printed by the american type founders company of jersey city, nj. A wonderful collection of images of midcentury american life. They depict american life of the 1950s with a gentle mix of humor teenage dating, fashion, popular music, social commentary influence of television, expansion of the highway system, and women in the workplace, and illustrations of rural life. American type founders specimen book and catalog 1923 original. Topics printing, advertising, typography, design, fonts, type, presses, letterpress, foundry, graphic design, american type founders, type specimen, specimen book a highquality pdf of the complete 1923 edition of the american type founders atf specimen book. American type founders specimen book, 1923 colwell handletter is shown extensively on pages 2927 last edited on 11 august 2020, at 16.
Apr 01, 2008 author of american specimen book of type styles, specimen book of american line type faces, specimens of printing types, collection of specimen booklets, book of american types, globe gothic bold, pacific coast blue book, a colorful showing of beautiful french types. Specimen book and catalogue, 1923 by american type founders. American type founders company, central type foundry branch, 1895. Also includes small booklet showcasing the new civilite type series which can be seen in the photos. Specimen book and catalogue 1923 dedicated to the typographic art. Gothic was a contemporary term now littleused except to describe period designs meaning sansserif. Jan 11, 2021 specimen book and catalogue, 1923 by american type founders. Ive rated it 5 stars due to the historical value of this book and that of an age gone by. Photos of a 1923 american type foundry specimen book.
American type founders specimen book, 1923 colwell handletter is shown extensively on pages 2927. American type founders collection the legacy of american. This book may have occasional imperfections such as missing or blurred pages, poor pictures, errant marks, etc. A classic typographic resource, the 1923 edition of the american type founders specimen book and catalog, has been released for the first. American specimen book of type styles 1912, 52 pagessee also here and here. The norlu press history loving letterpress stationers.
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