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Typographic Character Collection

"The Evolution of Typographic Characters

Background imageTypographic Character Collection: Printing machine (polyamatype) - engraving of 'La France industrielle' by Jahandier, 1880

Printing machine (polyamatype) - engraving of "La France industrielle" by Jahandier, 1880
PCT4257489 Printing machine (polyamatype) - engraving of "La France industrielle" by Jahandier, 1880.; (add.info)

Background imageTypographic Character Collection: Printing, printer, case (locker) of character: composers in front of their desks

Printing, printer, case (locker) of character: composers in front of their desks
PCT4279485 Printing, printer, case (locker) of character: composers in front of their desks. engraving of "Histoire d'un livre" by C

Background imageTypographic Character Collection: Type founders making metal type for a printing press near a furnace

Type founders making metal type for a printing press near a furnace. Handcoloured woodcut engraving from The Book of
FLO4577835 Type founders making metal type for a printing press near a furnace. Handcoloured woodcut engraving from The Book of English Trades and Library of the Useful Arts.; (add.info)

Background imageTypographic Character Collection: Illustration for 'Abecedaire des arts et metiers pour teaching a lire', 1866 (engraving)

Illustration for "Abecedaire des arts et metiers pour teaching a lire", 1866 (engraving)
DUV4205690 Illustration for "Abecedaire des arts et metiers pour teaching a lire", 1866 (engraving); 21x17 cm; Private Collection; (add.info)

Background imageTypographic Character Collection: Letter I: workshop of a printer (printing). Alphabetical cubes. Box of 30 cubes dating from 1898

Letter I: workshop of a printer (printing). Alphabetical cubes. Box of 30 cubes dating from 1898
DUV4202472 Letter I: workshop of a printer (printing). Alphabetical cubes. Box of 30 cubes dating from 1898. Cover illustrated by H. Roy. Unknown publisher

Background imageTypographic Character Collection: Portrait of the young Benjamin Franklin (1706-1790) wearing his boxes of typographical characters

Portrait of the young Benjamin Franklin (1706-1790) wearing his boxes of typographical characters upon arriving in
NWI4941597 Portrait of the young Benjamin Franklin (1706-1790) wearing his boxes of typographical characters upon arriving in Philadelphia to work in a printing shop

Background imageTypographic Character Collection: Composer at work: Printing character for manual press in a workshop

Composer at work: Printing character for manual press in a workshop. Colour engraving of the 19th century
NWI4826440 Composer at work: Printing character for manual press in a workshop. Colour engraving of the 19th century.; (add.info.: Composer at work: Printing character for manual press in a workshop)

Background imageTypographic Character Collection: Founders of printing characters, one poured molten metal into the moulds

Founders of printing characters, one poured molten metal into the moulds, another passed them into a polishing machine
FLO4577843 Founders of printing characters, one poured molten metal into the moulds, another passed them into a polishing machine - Type founders making printing type in a workshop

Background imageTypographic Character Collection: Title page and frontispiece Gulliver's Travel, 1826 (print)

Title page and frontispiece Gulliver's Travel, 1826 (print)
PCT4284888 Title page and frontispiece Gulliver's Travel, 1826 (print); (add.info.: Title page and frontispiece of an ancient open book: " Les voyages de Gulliver" by Jonathan Swift)

Background imageTypographic Character Collection: Illuminated page of the 1775 Midnight Ride by American patriot Paul Revere (1735-1818)

Illuminated page of the 1775 Midnight Ride by American patriot Paul Revere (1735-1818)
NWI4942257 Illuminated page of the 1775 Midnight Ride by American patriot Paul Revere (1735-1818), after the 1860 poem by Henry Wadsworth Longfellow (1807-1882) - Colorisee engraving

Background imageTypographic Character Collection: Illustration for 'Abecedaire des arts et metiers pour teaching a lire', 1866 (engraving)

Illustration for "Abecedaire des arts et metiers pour teaching a lire", 1866 (engraving)
DUV4205708 Illustration for "Abecedaire des arts et metiers pour teaching a lire", 1866 (engraving); 21x17 cm; Private Collection; (add.info.: Letter X Xyloglyph)

Background imageTypographic Character Collection: Hand holding a small blank pinch, which the user of the image can fill by writing a text of his

Hand holding a small blank pinch, which the user of the image can fill by writing a text of his choice
PCT4297841 Hand holding a small blank pinch, which the user of the image can fill by writing a text of his choice and pointing the image horizontally

Background imageTypographic Character Collection: All letters in the alphabet: round letters in uppercase

All letters in the alphabet: round letters in uppercase
DUV4203020 All letters in the alphabet: round letters in uppercase, round letters in lowercase and all numbers in round. Recreative alphabet. Epinal imaging. Stencilled wood engravings, circa 1880

Background imageTypographic Character Collection: L Assiette au Beurre, number 287, Satirical in Colors, 1906_9_29

L Assiette au Beurre, number 287, Satirical in Colors, 1906_9_29
ICA4906417 L Assiette au Beurre, number 287, Satirical in Colors, 1906_9_29 by Galantara, Gabriele (Rata Langa) (1865-1937); (add.info.: Russia, Anarchist Anarchism, Armee)

Background imageTypographic Character Collection: View of a printing workshop: the typographer and the character maker

View of a printing workshop: the typographer and the character maker
JLJ4566181 View of a printing workshop: the typographer and the character maker. Lithograph of Bineteau, 19th century. by French School

Background imageTypographic Character Collection: Printing: Greek case and upper casseau of the second part - '

Printing: Greek case and upper casseau of the second part - "
XEE4148457 Printing: Greek case and upper casseau of the second part - " La Grande Encyclopedie, ou Dictionnaire Raisonne des Sciences

Background imageTypographic Character Collection: Johannes Gensfleisch Gutenberg (1400-1468) inventing the printing press The German

Johannes Gensfleisch Gutenberg (1400-1468) inventing the printing press The German
JLJ4678987 Johannes Gensfleisch Gutenberg (1400-1468) inventing the printing press The German printer is a representative handling characters at his office

Background imageTypographic Character Collection: Autograph certificate of clavist (printing operator) issued by the Society of Clavists of

Autograph certificate of clavist (printing operator) issued by the Society of Clavists of
JLJ4651397 Autograph certificate of clavist (printing operator) issued by the Society of Clavists of London. It is decorated with portraits of Johannes Gutenberg and Willima Caxton

Background imageTypographic Character Collection: Frontispice of the second volume: Cybele on a chariot fired by lions

Frontispice of the second volume: Cybele on a chariot fired by lions
LRI4709400 Frontispice of the second volume: Cybele on a chariot fired by lions, surrounded by Religion and Politics, above the deities Penates and Lares (etching, 1572-1617) by Hogenberg

Background imageTypographic Character Collection: Craft craft: the typewriter in his workshop. In '

Craft craft: the typewriter in his workshop. In "
LSE4110709 Craft craft: the typewriter in his workshop. In " Comprehensive description of arts and crafts and workshops for young people" by Johan Peter Vue. Ed

Background imageTypographic Character Collection: Foundry in characters - 'The Great Encyclopedie, ou Dictionnaire Raisonne des

Foundry in characters - "The Great Encyclopedie, ou Dictionnaire Raisonne des
XEE4148537 Foundry in characters - " The Great Encyclopedie, ou Dictionnaire Raisonne des Sciences, des Arts et des Metiers" (Encyclopedia or Dictionary of the Sciences)

Background imageTypographic Character Collection: Electrotyping workshops, 1860: wax imprint. Mr. Koblenzs workshops in Paris

Electrotyping workshops, 1860: wax imprint. Mr. Koblenzs workshops in Paris
XEE4145506 Electrotyping workshops, 1860: wax imprint. Mr. Koblenzs workshops in Paris. Engraving in " Le Monde Illustre" nA'143 of 7 January 1860

Background imageTypographic Character Collection: History of printing: first test of the Bible printed by the press of Johannes Gensfleisch

History of printing: first test of the Bible printed by the press of Johannes Gensfleisch
GIA4727702 History of printing: first test of the Bible printed by the press of Johannes Gensfleisch Gutenberg (1400-1468) represented with Johann Fust (1400-1466)

Background imageTypographic Character Collection: The drawing room of the Credit Foncier in 1898

The drawing room of the Credit Foncier in 1898
XEE4408058 The drawing room of the Credit Foncier in 1898. by French School, (19th century); Private Collection; (add.info)

Background imageTypographic Character Collection: All letters in the alphabet: English letters in upper case

All letters in the alphabet: English letters in upper case
DUV4203022 All letters in the alphabet: English letters in upper case, English letters in lower case and all Arabic numerals. Recreative alphabet. Epinal imaging

Background imageTypographic Character Collection: Robert Estienne (1503-1559). In Le Plutarque francais, Volume III, by Mennechet, 1836

Robert Estienne (1503-1559). In Le Plutarque francais, Volume III, by Mennechet, 1836
LSE4109826 Robert Estienne (1503-1559). In Le Plutarque francais, Volume III, by Mennechet, 1836. Library of decorative arts

Background imageTypographic Character Collection: Printing: case - 'The Grande Encyclopedie, ou Dictionnaire Raisonne des

Printing: case - "The Grande Encyclopedie, ou Dictionnaire Raisonne des
XEE4148456 Printing: case - " The Grande Encyclopedie, ou Dictionnaire Raisonne des Sciences, des Arts et des Metiers" (Encyclopedia or Dictionary of the Sciences)

Background imageTypographic Character Collection: Character Foundry - 'The Great Encyclopedie, or Dictionary of the Sciences

Character Foundry - "The Great Encyclopedie, or Dictionary of the Sciences
XEE4148512 Character Foundry - " The Great Encyclopedie, or Dictionary of the Sciences, Arts and Professions" by Denis Diderot (1713-1784) and Jean d Alembert (1717-1783)

Background imageTypographic Character Collection: Character foundry - in 'Encyclopedia'by Diderot et d Alembert

Character foundry - in "Encyclopedia"by Diderot et d Alembert
LSE4084712 Character foundry - in " Encyclopedia" by Diderot et d Alembert by Unknown artist, (18th century); Private Collection; (add.info)

Background imageTypographic Character Collection: Electrotyping workshops, 1860: bathing. Wooden tank filled with gutta percha

Electrotyping workshops, 1860: bathing. Wooden tank filled with gutta percha
XEE4145445 Electrotyping workshops, 1860: bathing. Wooden tank filled with gutta percha and filled with copper sulfate from which voltaic batteries are placed. Mr. Koblenzs workshops in Paris

Background imageTypographic Character Collection: Printing: Greek case, lower casseau of the second part and third part - '

Printing: Greek case, lower casseau of the second part and third part - "
XEE4148460 Printing: Greek case, lower casseau of the second part and third part - " La Grande Encyclopedie, ou Dictionnaire Raisonne des Sciences

Background imageTypographic Character Collection: Electrotyping workshops, 1860: the assembly. Mr. Koblenzs workshops in Paris

Electrotyping workshops, 1860: the assembly. Mr. Koblenzs workshops in Paris
XEE4145313 Electrotyping workshops, 1860: the assembly. Mr. Koblenzs workshops in Paris. Engraving in " Le Monde Illustre" nA'143 of 7 January 1860

Background imageTypographic Character Collection: Atlas carrying the world, in a geography map shop (etching, 1730)

Atlas carrying the world, in a geography map shop (etching, 1730)
LRI4706259 Atlas carrying the world, in a geography map shop (etching, 1730) by Delisle, Guillaume (1675-1726); Private Collection; (add.info.: Cover with frontispiece, Atlas carrying the world)

Background imageTypographic Character Collection: Character Foundry - 'The Great Encyclopedie, or Dictionary of the Sciences

Character Foundry - "The Great Encyclopedie, or Dictionary of the Sciences
XEE4148498 Character Foundry - " The Great Encyclopedie, or Dictionary of the Sciences, Arts and Professions" by Denis Diderot (1713-1784) and Jean d Alembert (1717-1783)

Background imageTypographic Character Collection: Printing: continuation of the case, utensils and tools - '

Printing: continuation of the case, utensils and tools - "
XEE4148451 Printing: continuation of the case, utensils and tools - " The Grande Encyclopedie, ou Dictionnaire Raisonne des Sciences

Background imageTypographic Character Collection: Electrotyping workshops, 1860: the tour. Mr. Koblenzs workshops in Paris

Electrotyping workshops, 1860: the tour. Mr. Koblenzs workshops in Paris
XEE4145412 Electrotyping workshops, 1860: the tour. Mr. Koblenzs workshops in Paris. Engraving in " Le Monde Illustre" nA'143 of 7 January 1860

Background imageTypographic Character Collection: Printers and typographic printing with arm press around 1600 by Jan Van Der Straet

Printers and typographic printing with arm press around 1600 by Jan Van Der Straet
JLJ4641874 Printers and typographic printing with arm press around 1600 by Jan Van Der Straet (Giovanni Stradano or Johannes Stradanus) (1523-1605)

Background imageTypographic Character Collection: Frontispice of the first volume: allegory of geography, a woman holding comppas

Frontispice of the first volume: allegory of geography, a woman holding comppas
LRI4709388 Frontispice of the first volume: allegory of geography, a woman holding comppas, square and rulle, truncating above a female soldier and a naked man (etching, 1572-1617) by Hogenberg



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"The Evolution of Typographic Characters: A Journey Through Printing History" Step into the world of typography as we explore the fascinating history and craftsmanship behind typographic characters. In this captivating journey, we delve into various aspects that have shaped the art of printing. Take a glimpse into a printing workshop from 1906, where the skilled typographer and character maker meticulously craft each letter with precision and care. Witness their expertise as they work on Greek cases and upper casseaus, bringing life to words on paper. Travel back in time to witness Johannes Gensfleisch Gutenberg's groundbreaking invention - the printing press. This German visionary revolutionized communication by enabling mass production of books for all to enjoy. Discover an autograph certificate issued by the Society of Clavists, honoring these talented printing operators who played a vital role in spreading knowledge through their meticulous work. Marvel at Cybele on her fiery chariot adorning the frontispiece of a volume dedicated to typographic characters. Appreciate not only their functional purpose but also their artistic beauty that adds depth to printed works. Enter a modern-day typewriter workshop where craftsmen continue this age-old tradition with dedication and passion. Witness how every stroke contributes to creating masterpieces that stand as testaments to human creativity. Explore foundries filled with an array of characters, showcasing endless possibilities for expression through typefaces. Immerse yourself in "The Great Encyclopedie, " witnessing how these intricate letters come together harmoniously, offering knowledge at your fingertips. Experience electrotyping workshops from 1860s Paris, where wax imprints capture delicate details before being transformed into durable metal plates used for mass reproduction. These technological advancements further propelled the dissemination of information across borders. Uncover historical milestones like the first test printings of Bibles produced by Johannes Gensfleisch Gutenberg's press – pivotal moments that forever changed society's access to religious texts.