Typography Scrapbook
Scope and Contents
The contents of this scrapbook are paper cutouts of samples of font types for initial alphabets, head and tail piece ornamentation illustrations used during the American Civil War era or the Victorian age in England. However, the samples are not limited to nineteenth century type fonts, as some of the illustrations appeared earlier. Samples of these earlier illustrations are wood engravings credited to an eighteenth century engraver, Jean Beugnet (1753-1803), a French artist distinguished in wood engraving. The predominant samples appear to be of the Victorian era typography with the Victorian love of ornamental complexity.
Dates
- Creation: 1826 - 1883
Conditions Governing Access
Collection housed remotely. Users need to contact 24 hours in advance.
Conditions Governing Use
Collection is open for research.
Please inquire about copyright information.
Biographical / Historical
Enclosed within the scrapbook is a small envelope (7.75 x 14 cm) addressed to Mr. Chas J. Bushnell 4th Avenue New York, within the envelope are additional paper cutouts of alphabets matching the samples glued down on the pages of the scrapbook. Apparently Mr. Bushnell of New York prepared an auction catalog with Introduction and Notes titled Catalogue of a Magnificent Private Library, the property of a Gentleman of New York who has taken up his Residence abroad by James Warren Bouton, New York, 1868. This catalog has illustrations very similar to the samples in the scrapbook. Presumably the preparer or publisher of the catalog supplied the typography scrapbook to Mr. Bushnell. Mr. Bushnell apparently was an author of historical biography and an antiquarian. Maybe Lehigh Library acquired some of Mr. Bushnell’s library when upon his death his library was auctioned.
Extent
1 book, .25 linear feet
Language of Materials
English
Abstract
A scrapbook with assorted samples of typography initial alphabet fonts, head and tail piece ornamentation of wood or copper engraving for the printing press. Some of the samples represent illustrations appearing on Confederate currency but most examples represent Victorian embellishments.
Arrangement
The arrangement is basically alphabetically with assorted printing ornamentation.
Immediate Source of Acquisition
Accessioned by The Lehigh University Library August 8, 1883; accession number 25682.
- Title
- Typography Scrapbook, 1826-1883
- Status
- Completed
- Author
- Ilhan Citak and Eleanor Nothelfer
- Date
- 2013-05-01
- Description rules
- Describing Archives: A Content Standard
- Language of description
- English
- Script of description
- Code for undetermined script
- Bushnell, Charles I. 1864-1866. Crumbs for Antiquarians. 2 volumes. New York. Privately Printed
- Denham, Alexander. 1883. Catalogue of the Library, &c. of the late Charles Ira Bushnell, Esq. New York.
Repository Details
Part of the Lehigh University Special Collections Repository
Lehigh University
Linderman Library
30 Library Drive
Bethlehem PA 18045 USA
610-758-4506
610-758-6091 (Fax)
inspc@lehigh.edu