The Printers’ International Specimen Exchange. With an Introduction by the Editor of “The British Printer.” Vol. XI.
London: Office of “The British Printer,” 25 Pilgrim Street, 1890. First edition of this number. Large 8vo (11.25 x 9 inches), contemporary deep wine half morocco, pebbled cloth sides, gilt lettering, [8] pages plus 280 specimen leaves of printing (generally rectos only, several with multiple examples per leaf; one example folding). Numerous instances of color printing and printing in gilt. Binder’s ticket for the publisher’s bindery, Raithby, Lawrence & Co., Leicester, on the rear pastedown. Spine somewhat sunned; a few instances of light foxing or offset; in near fine condition. Item #20764
A beautiful example of this annual collection of specimens from the artistic printing movement, one of approximately 325 copies and drawing heavily on British and German presses. Hilton notes in his anonymous introduction that both British and German printers have seen recent improvements, “the freshness and freedom of American typography having had its effect on them as well as on us.”) From the middle period of this specimen exchange, not long after Tuer had been forced out and Raithby, Lawrence had bought out Hilton’s interest in the British Printer and the exchange. This copy from the publisher’s own reference library, with the label mounted to the front pastedown for the De Montfort Press Technical Library, this copy bound at the publisher’s bindery. Raithby, Lawrence & Co. had bought the periodical British Printer from Hilton in 1890, and kept him on as editor.
Price: $1,500.00