American Wood Type, 1828-1900: Notes on the Evolution of Decorated and Large Type [Rob Roy Kelly, 1st ed. Hardcover]

American Wood Type, 1828-1900: Notes on the Evolution of Decorated and Large Types by Rob Roy Kelly, 1st ed. hardcover with dust jacket, 1969. Van Nostrand Reinhold Company, New York, USA. 9.25 x 12.25, pp. 350. Design by Rob Roy Kelly.

Kelly’s seminal book “tells the complete story of wood type, beginning with the history of wood as a printing material, the development of decorated letters and large letters, and the invention of machinery for mass-producing wood letters. More than 600 styles of wood type are 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.”

Richly illustrated with an Introduction by the author, followed by (8) chapters: Evolution of Display Types, The Wood Type Industry in America During the 19th Century, Wood Type Manufacturers, Competition Among the Wood Type Manufacturers, Wood Type Styles, Chronological Development of Wood Type Styles, Competition Among the Related Trades, an Epilogue to the Wood Types, Bibliography and Index.

A near fine oversized hard cover cloth book in a good dust jacket with toning and minor staining on the back cover. A piece missing on the lower front cover and small tears and chips along the edges and back. Interior pages unmarked and clean. Out of print.