The American Printer: A Manual of Typography: Containing practical directions for managing all departments of a printing office, as well as complete instructions for apprentices; with several useful tables, numerous schemes for imposing forms in every variety, hints to authors, etc. — John Shaqi
The American Printer: A Manual of Typography: Containing practical directions for managing all departments of a printing office, as well as complete instructions for apprentices; with several useful tables, numerous schemes for imposing forms in every variety, hints to authors, etc.MacKellar, Thomas
History
The American Printer: A Manual of Typography: Containing practical directions for managing all departments of a printing office, as well as complete instructions for apprentices; with several useful tables, numerous schemes for imposing forms in every variety, hints to authors, etc.
MacKellar, Thomas
Graphic design (Typography); Printing -- United States -- Handbooks, manuals, etc.; Printing industry -- United States
Besides the foregoing, a smaller size than Diamond, called Brilliant, is
now cast in the foundry of MacKellar, Smiths & Jordan of Philadelphia,
the body of which is just one-half of Minion. Even this is surpassed in
smallness by a music type cast in the same foundry, named Excelsior,
which is precisely one-half the size of Nonpareil. Another size omitted
in the list is Minionette, (equivalent to six of the Didot points,) which
is next above Nonpareil.
Canon is conceded to have been first produced by a French artisan, and
was probably used in some work relating to the canons of the church; to
which the German title, Missal, alludes.
Two-line Great Primer, Two-line English, and Two-line Pica, owe their
names to the respective bodies of which the depth of two em quadrates
answers to one of the double sizes.
Paragon was probably first cut in France. It is known as Text by the
Germans.
Pica is universally considered as the standard type, and by it furniture,
quotations and labour-saving rules are graduated. A line 83 Pica ems long
is equivalent to 35 centimeters. The twelfth part of Pica is the unit,
called a Point, by which type-bodies are measured. MacKellar, Smiths &
Jordan cast their new borders, ornaments, and job type on Pica, and its
subdivisions of Nonpareil, (½ Pica,) and Excelsior, (¼ Pica,) and their
multiples.
[Illustration: Transcriber’s Note: In the original, each paragraph was
printed in the size of type that it describes (they run from largest to
smallest).]
Great Primer, called Tertia in Germany, is one of the major
sizes of type which were early used for printing considerable
works, and especially the Bible; on which account some persons
term it Bible Text. The French name is Gros Romain.
English is called Mittel by the Germans, and St. Augustin by
the French and Dutch; the word Mittel (Middle) intimating that
the former sizes of letter were seven in number, the centre of
which was English, with Prima, Secunda, and Tertia on one side,
and Pica, Long Primer, and Brevier on the other. The name St.
Augustin was probably given because the writings of that Father
were the first works done in that letter.
Pica is called Cicero by the French and Germans. As the
preceding size was distinguished by the name of St. Augustin,
so this has been honoured with that of Cicero, on account of
the Epistles of that writer having been first done in letter
of this size. It is doubtful whether the name was given by the
French or the Germans.
Small Pica is a grade below Pica, and is now generally employed
in octavo volumes, and is, indeed, almost the only size used
for printing legal reports and other law books. The French call
this letter Philosophie, which, however, is merely a Pica face
on Small Pica body. The Germans call it Kleine Cicero.
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