Ludlow Typefaces, A Specimen Book of Matrix Fonts, Large Specimen Book, Registered Copy No. 3531 with name and label, n.d. [1930, 1st edition?]. Ludlow Typograph Company, 2032 Clybourn Avenue, Chicago, Illinois, USA with offices in New York, Boston, Atlanta and San Francisco. 9.25. x 12.25, n.p. but more than (300) single-sided pages and decorated endpapers. A blue hardcover cloth stamped with silver and red with Douglas C. McMurtrie’s Ultra-Modern Bold typeface used on the cover.
Laid in the rear pocket are (3) Ludlow Typeface Supplementary Specimen Pages, each with 12-20 pages: September 15, 1931, April 1932 and February 1934 which states “This supplement, together with the supplements dated March, 1931 [not included here] and April, 1932, and the blue cloth-bound book, constitute a complete showing to date of available Ludlow typefaces.”
From the illustrated Introduction: “In this volume are presented specimens of the typefaces available in matrix form for the Ludlow system of hand-set, slug-cast composition in type sizes ranging from small Lining Plat 6-point to full-width 72-point bold caps and lower case, and even 84-point title caps.”
With (10) individual sections and a handy index for locating Ludlow Typeface Names (too many to name) and Ludlow Typeface Numbers. Richly illustrated with black and white specimens and examples, Miscellaneous Matrices and Borders and Ornaments. “This volume itself affords the best evidence of the quality of design of Ludlow matrix faces and of the great strides made in recent years in extending their range for users of the Ludlow system. While the assortment of standard faces has been rounded out and amplified, a vigorous program of original design has also supplied the Ludlow user with a number of distinguished faces not otherwise obtainable.”
A very good or better specimen with light rubbing, handling and a small tear to the cover. The interior pages have some light toning along the margins (what you would expect) and damp staining and waviness to the top and bottom right corners of most pages with some pages showing more than others. A tear to the rear pocket and small tears to some edges. Overall, a lovely copy of an easily abused volume. Excellent!
