A Specimen showing... Broadside
A Specimen showing... Broadside
Artist
William Caslon
(English | British, 1692-1766)
Place of OriginEngland (London)
Date1734
DimensionsOverall: 18 x 14 5/8 in. (45.7 x 37.1 cm)
ClassificationManuscripts
Object number
1926.96
Not on View
DescriptionRoman, Italic, Gothic, Coptic, Armenian, Syriac, Arabic, Hebrew, Greek and other types and ornaments.
Label TextCaslon, an engraver of gunlocks and bookbinding tools turned typefounder, was the first to infuse typographic genius into the English printing industry. He established his foundry in 1720 and issued his first comprehensive type specimen sheet in 1734, the date of this broadside. Here one sees the variety of roman and italic types available, as well as Greek, Hebrew, Arabic, and even Armenian. Although the Caslon roman and italic were patterned on contemporary Dutch models, the craftsmanship of his design and cutting made a better, cleaner font. The high quality and usefulness of his type immediately reversed English dependence on the Continent.
4th century
Late 18th-19th century
250-150 BCE
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