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A History of the Old English Letter Foundries / with Notes, Historical and Bibliographical, on the Rise and Progress of English Typography.
By Talbot Baines Reed
Length18h 37m
About this audiobook
The fascinating evolution of the printed word is meticulously documented, tracing the artistry and engineering that shaped modern communication. From the earliest craftsmen to the industrial pioneers, the creation of typefaces becomes a thrilling saga of innovation and cultural impact. The intricate details of typography reveal the unseen foundation of centuries of literature and knowledge. Delve into the rich historical legacy of the masters who literally forged the alphabet.
Audiobook details
GenreOther
Length18 hrs 37 mins
Narrated byListen with 1,000+ voices
FormateBook with Audio
Publish dateApr 8, 2026
LanguageEnglish
Table of contents
1CHAPTER I
47THOMAS AND JOHN JAMES, 1710.: “MR. JAMES’S FOUNDERY.
2THE ENGLISH TYPE BODIES AND FACES.
48CHAPTER XI.
3TYPE-BODIES.
49WILLIAM CASLON, 1720.: “MR. CASLON’S FOUNDERY.
4I.—ROMAN.
50CHAPTER XII.: ALEXANDER WILSON, 1742.
5ITALIC.
51CHAPTER XIII.: JOHN BASKERVILLE, 1752.
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6BLACK LETTER.
52CHAPTER XIV.
7SECRETARY.
53THOMAS COTTRELL, 1757.: MR. COTTRELL’S FOUNDRY.
8CHAPTER II.
54CHAPTER XV.: JOSEPH AND EDMUND FRY, 1764.
9TYPE FACES (CONTINUED).
55CHAPTER XVI.
10THE LEARNED, FOREIGN, AND PECULIAR CHARACTERS.
56JOSEPH JACKSON, 1763.: “MR. JACKSON’S FOUNDERY.
11GREEK.
57CHAPTER XVII.: WILLIAM MARTIN, 1790.
12HEBREW.
58CHAPTER XVIII.
13ARABIC.
59VINCENT FIGGINS, 1792.: MR. FIGGINS’ FOUNDRY.
14SYRIAC.
60CHAPTER XIX.
15ARMENIAN.
61MINOR FOUNDERS OF THE EIGHTEENTH CENTURY.
16ETHIOPIC.
62SKINNER, circ. 1710.
17COPTIC.
63DUMMERS, circ. 1734.
18SAMARITAN.
64JALLESON, circ. 1734.
19SCLAVONIC.
65JACOB ILIVE, circ. 1730.
20ETRUSCAN.
66THE WESTONS.
21RUNIC.
67JOHN BAINE, 1749.
22GOTHIC.
68GEORGE ANDERTON, 1753.
23ICELANDIC, SWEDISH AND DANISH.
69HENRY FOUGT, circ. 1766.
24SAXON.
70JOSEPH FENWICK, circ. 1770.
25IRISH.
71T. RICHARDS, 1778.
26MUSIC.
72McPHAIL, 1778.
27BLIND.
73IMISSON, 1785.
28INITIALS.
74MYLES SWINNEY, 1785.
29TYPE ORNAMENTS AND FLOWERS.
75SIMEON & CHARLES STEPHENSON, 1789.
30CHAPTER III.
76CHAPTER XX.: WILLIAM MILLER, 1809.
31THE PRINTER LETTER-FOUNDERS, FROM CAXTON TO DAY.
77CHAPTER XXI.
32CHAPTER IV.: LETTER-FOUNDING AS AN ENGLISH MECHANICAL TRADE. 1477–1830.
78THE MINOR FOUNDERS, 1800–1830.
33CHAPTER V.: THE STATE CONTROL OF ENGLISH LETTER-FOUNDING.
79G. W. BOWER, circ. 1810.
34CHAPTER VI.: THE OXFORD UNIVERSITY FOUNDRY.
80BROWN, 1810.—LYNCH, 1810.
35CHAPTER VII.: THE STAR CHAMBER FOUNDERS, AND THE LONDON POLYGLOT.
81MATTHEWSON, circ. 1810.
36CHAPTER VIII.: JOSEPH MOXON, 1659.
82ANTHONY BESSEMER, 1813.
37CHAPTER IX.
83RICHARD AUSTIN, circ. 1815.
38THE LATER FOUNDERS OF THE SEVENTEENTH CENTURY.
84LOUIS JOHN POUCHÉE, circ. 1815.
39THOMAS GORING, 1668. JOSEPH LEE, 1669.
85RICHARD WATTS, circ. 1815.
40ROBERT ANDREWS, 1683.
86HUGH HUGHES, 1824.
41JAMES GROVER, circ. 1675. THOMAS GROVER, his son.371
87BARTON, 1824.
42GODFREY HEAD, 1685,392
88HEAPHY, 1825; SIMMONS, 1825; BLACK, 1825.
43ROBERT MITCHELL,
89LIST OF THE PRINCIPAL AUTHORITIES CONSULTED OR REFERRED TO. (pt. 1)
44THE “ANONYMOUS” FOUNDRY.
90LIST OF THE PRINCIPAL AUTHORITIES CONSULTED OR REFERRED TO. (pt. 2)
45OXFORD FOUNDERS.
91LIST OF THE PRINCIPAL AUTHORITIES CONSULTED OR REFERRED TO. (pt. 3)
46CHAPTER X.
92IMPRINT | DISCLAIMER
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