American Wood Type: 1828-1900, Rob Roy Kelly — 1st Edition

£52.80

American Wood Type: 1828-1900, Rob Roy Kelly — 1st Edition

Name: American Wood Type: 1828-1900, Rob Roy Kelly — 1st Edition
Brand: Broadhursts Books
SKU: 6736
Price: 52.80 GBP
Availability: InStock

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Publication: New York, Van Nostrand Reinhold Company, 1969

Formatting: Folio, pp. 350.

Condition Report: Good. A serviceable ex-institutional copy presenting with typical library interventions. The publisher’s original cloth binding remains structurally sound, though the extremities display moderate shelf-wear and minor bumping. The text block is firm, with internal pages remaining generally bright and clean despite expected handling. Its provenance as a withdrawn reference volume is evidenced by institutional stamps to the title and copyright pages, along with a classification label at the base of the dust jacket spine. The accompanying original dust jacket bears noticeable edge-wear, creasing, and significant closed tears with associated tape repairs, particularly to the rear panel and lower spine, yet it remains largely intact and protected.

Catalogue Note: First edition, first printing of Rob Roy Kelly's seminal work on nineteenth-century American typography, famously responsible for prompting a major typographical revival in the 1970s. The volume is illustrated extensively, cataloguing over 600 wood typefaces and presenting 100 complete alphabets.

This particular copy boasts a compelling local provenance for our bookshop, having formerly been held in the reference collection of the Southport Technical College Library. It features their institutional accession stamps and subsequent "Withdrawn Stock" markings, tracing its history within the local Lancashire educational community.

While softcover reprints are relatively ubiquitous, the original 1969 hardcover first edition, especially retaining its original dust jacket, has become increasingly uncommon on the open market and remains highly sought after by typographers and design historians.

Rob Roy Kelly's American Wood Type: 1828-1900 stands as the definitive history of wood type in the United States. Tracing the evolution of decorated and large types from their introduction through to their eventual decline, the book provides an exhaustive visual record of America's typographical heritage. It is a vital resource that not only chronicles the manufacturing techniques and chronological development of wood type but also explores the competitive landscape of the printing trades during the nineteenth century. Kelly's work remains an indispensable reference for typographers, graphic designers, and print historians alike.

Book Condition: Good

Book Authors: Rob Roy Kelly

Book Publisher: Van Nostrand Reinhold Company

Book Language: English

Narrative Type: Non-Fiction

Genre: History

Book edition: First Edition

Signed: No

Book Pages: 350

Book Publication Year: 1969

Book Publication Date:

Book Binding: Hardcover

Illustrator: N/A

Book Series: N/A

Country/region of manufacture: New York, United States

Book Dimensions:

Book Condition Guide

We stock thousands of books in a wide range of conditions. To make things clear and to help you know exactly what to expect, Please refer to these condition categories to understand the condition of the book you will receive.

Condition	Description
New	A brand-new, unread and professionally handled book. Carefully preserved from publication to purchase, these books are offered in the best attainable condition. This grade applies to recently published titles that have not entered long-term storage.
As New	The book is in pristine, original condition as if just published. No signs of use or handling. The dust jacket (if present) is equally flawless. This grade applies to any book that has remained untouched in storage for years.
Fine	The book is close to As New. It remains bright and attractive, but could show minor imperfections to the boards and/or dust jacket (if present). Its pages are typically clean and unmarked.
Near Fine	The book has a number of small flaws, i.e. slight rubbing to the edges, or tiny chips or creases to the dust jacket (if present). Its pages may have faint marks, or creases that are barely perceptible — nothing that detracts from their overall condition.
Very Good	The book maintains its structural integrity, and has no major flaws such as tears to its binding or pages. It may, however, show signs of careful use, handling, or storage — small marks and creases, light foxing. Its dust jacket (if present) remains fully intact, but small tears may be present.
Good	A book that remains intact and readable with complete text pages, but shows moderate signs of wear and use to both the book and dust jacket (if present). It may have noticeable creases, nicks, or stains, and the spine likely shows fading, bumping, and rubbing. There could be writing, underlining, and other marks on some pages, though the majority will be clean and tidy.
Fair	A book with significant wear or damage. The text pages will be complete, but there may be heavy underlining, highlighting and staining throughout, and the book’s endpapers, half-title, and copyright pages could be damaged or missing. The binding could be loose, and the dust jacket (if present) may have notable scuffs or tears. These copies are usually of interest for content, signature(s) or scarcity.
Poor	A heavily worn book whose value lies in its complete and legible text. A poor book will have substantial defects — loose joints or hinges, detached covers, loose and/or missing pages, and could be heavily soiled. A poor book is also known as a reading copy, and although compromised, can hold historical or bibliographic significance.