John Fell, The University Press and the 'Fell' Types

First Edition, 1967. 280 pages. Book measures 10.5 x 15.125 inches. Blue cloth. "The Punches and Matrices Designed for Printing in the Greek, Latin, English, and Oriental Languages Bequeathed in 1686 to The University of Oxford by John Fell, D.D." By Stanley Morison with the assistance of Harry Carter

The first part of the book supplies a historical background for Fell's enterprise in learned printing, a biography of him, and an account of his acquisition of typographical equipment. In the second part Stanley Morison deals in detail with the types, Roman, Italic, Greek, exotic, and flowers, and provides introductory histories of the scripts in their epigraphic and manuscript forms. The types are displayed in synopses showing their characters and in specimen forms.

Printed in an edition of 1000 copies on rag paper from the hand-set type cast at the Press in the matrices given by Fell, overseen by Vivian Ridler. Includes 27 plates from offset reproduction of matrices, woodblocks for initials, type founder's molds, and other related material.

Book is in Very Good+ condition. Front endpaper shows 2 faint creases . Binding is solid. Dust Jacket is in Very Good condition showing only minor signs of light wear, and minor rubbing. A sound copy of this oversize volume. Scarce.