Da Capo Press, 1977 | Paperback, 352pp | 25.5 x 30 cm | First Paperback Edition
A vintage copy of Kelly’s landmark history of wood type in the United States - still the definitive reference nearly half a century on. Scholarly yet accessible, this richly illustrated volume charts the full trajectory of American wood type: from its origins in the 1820s to its 19th-century golden age.
Kelly details everything from the invention of wood-cutting machinery and the rise of decorated letters to the marketing and manufacture of typefaces on an industrial scale. The book situates wood type within a wider visual culture - sign-painting, poster printing, calligraphy, engraving, lithography - and shows how these worlds intersected.
More than 600 styles of wood type are classified and annotated here, alongside over 100 specimens reproduced directly from printers’ proofs, complete with all the wear and quirks accumulated through years of use. A trove for designers, typographers, and historians alike.
An endlessly recommended cornerstone text for anyone serious about type, printing, or the visual culture of the 19th century.
Condition: Good+ for age. Mild edge and shelf wear to covers; binding and tight. Pages lightly age-tanned with some foxing to top edge (visible when closed) and occasional spots internally. No inscriptions or annotations.
