Specimens of Chromatic Wood Type, Borders, &c.: The 1874 Masterpiece of Colorful Typography

Description

Every bibliophile and designer has the 1874 type specimen book, Specimens of Chromatic Wood Type and Borders, on their list of favourite books - its beauty, craftsmanship, and accidental concrete poetry are marvel-worthy. But the true marvel is that this stunning volume has not yet been republished - until now. Considered one of the most beautiful books in the world, this new volume will have immediate appeal to graphic designers, artists, artisans, and anyone with a wicked sense of humour. With its beautiful antique typography, playful design, and masterful multi-coloured printing, 'Specimens' is considered the most stylised and wild specimen book of its kind.

Esther K. Smith stitches artist books and makes collaborative limited editions at Purgatory Pie Press with hand-typographer Dikko Faust and other artists and writers. She has exhibited at the Metropolitan Museum of Art, London's Victoria & Albert Museum, Museum of Modern Art, The National Gallery of Art, London's Tate, the Walker, and the Whitney Museum.

"During the 1870s the Wm. H. Page & Company published what are often considered the greatest type specimens ever printed. These lavish books were masterfully printed to showcase Page's chromatic wood types and inks by Wade's Inks. Esther K. Smith of Purgatory Pie Press, design historian Steven Heller, and artist Wayne White collaborated to produce a stunning facsimile of Page's 1874 specimen, published by Rizzoli." -Daily Type Specimen "Surpringly psychadelic..." -Alexandra Lange