The Specimen contains one new feature—a Double Pica Script—which, however, is of no particular merit.
The year 1785 was prolific in Specimens of the Chiswell Street foundry. In addition to the book above referred to, two folio Specimens, one an 8 pp. large post-folio, and another a 6 pp. foolscap-folio, appeared, intended for use as {250} inset plates to Encyclopædias,[506] in which the principal founts of the foundry, Roman and Oriental, were displayed. In addition to this, there was issued a 2 pp. folio Specimen of large letter[507] showing the sand-cast types of the foundry in sizes from 19 to 7-line Pica.
In the preceding year Caslon III. had issued his specimen of Cast Ornaments—the first of the kind exhibited by an English Founder—displaying 65 designs of various size and merit at prices ranging from 3d. to 7s. each. In his introductory note to the second edition, dated July 20, 1786, he takes to himself the credit of an invention “completed with infinite attention and at an inconceivable expence,” whereby the trade is in future to be supplied with typographic designs equal to copperplate and less costly than the commonest wood-cuts. The process thus originated was that of sharply impressing a wood block in cooling metal so as to form a lead matrix from which to “dab” further impressions as required. The specimen of 1785 contained a few small ships of imposing appearance, but these were produced by the usual method of punch and matrix.
It does not appear that the third Caslon’s connexion with the business resulted in any large addition to its founts. As, however, no specimen book of the Foundry is known between 1786 and 1805, it is difficult to judge of its progress during that period.
In the year 1792 Mr. Caslon disposed of his interest in the Chiswell Street business to his mother and sister-in-law. Henry Caslon had died in 1788. He had married Miss Elizabeth Rowe, a lady of good family,[508] between whom and their only son, Henry (at that time an infant of two years), he left his share of the Foundry.
“It will not appear extraordinary,” says Hansard, “that a property so divided, and under the management of two ladies, though both superior and indeed extraordinary women, should be unable to maintain its ground triumphantly against the active competition which had for some time existed against it. In fact, the fame of the first William Caslon was peculiarly disadvantageous to Mrs. Caslon, as she never could be persuaded that any attempt to rival him could possibly be successful.”
Mrs. Caslon, sen., was an active member of the Association of Typefounders {251} of her day, which first met in 1793. In this capacity she gained the esteem of her fellow founders as well as of the printers, and on one occasion formed one of a deputation of two to confer with the latter on certain questions affecting the price of type.
She died from the effects of a paralytic stroke in October 1795.
The esteem in which she was held by all who knew her was amply testified by numerous notices in the public prints of the day. “Her merit and abilities,” says one, “in conducting a capital business during the life of her husband and afterwards, till her son was capable of managing it, can only be known to those who had dealings with the manufactory. In quickness of understanding and activity of execution she has left few equals among her sex.” And, in the same strain, the Freemason’s Magazine of March 1796, thus speaks of her: “The urbanity of her manners, and her diligence and activity in the conduct of so extensive a concern, attached to her interest all who had dealings with her, and the steadiness of her friendship rendered her death highly lamented by all who had the happiness of being in the extensive circle of her acquaintance.” The latter notice is accompanied by a portrait of this worthy lady.
Mrs. Caslon’s will becoming the object of some litigation, her estate was thrown into Chancery, and in March 1799, the Foundry was, by order of the Court, put up for auction and purchased by Mrs. Henry Caslon for £520. The smallness of this figure is the more remarkable since only seven years previously, on the retirement of Caslon III., a third share of the concern had sold for £3000.