The following is Hansard’s summary of the foreign and learned founts contained in this foundry in 1825:—
MR. FIGGINS’ FOUNDRY.
- Domesday.[714]—
- Pica, Small Pica.
- German Text (Ornamental).—
- Five-line Pica.
- Greek.[715]—
- Great Primer, English, Pica, Small Pica, Long Primer, Brevier.
- Hebrew.—
- English with points, Pica, Small Pica, Ditto with points.[716]—Long Primer, Nonpareil.
- Irish.—
- Small Pica.
- Persian.—
- Paragon.
- Saxon.—
- Pica, Small Pica, Long Primer, Brevier.
- Syriac.—
- Double Pica, English, Long Primer, Brevier.
- Télegú.[717]—
- English.
- Black.—
- Double Pica, Great Primer, English, Pica, Long Primer.
Further specimens were issued in 1824 and 1826, each indicating the rapid growth of the rising foundry between those dates. They were followed in 1827 by a compact little 16mo volume; and from that date specimens are frequent.
Mr. Figgins died at Peckham, Feb. 29th, 1844. He was for several years Common Councillor for the Ward of Farringdon Without; “an amiable and worthy character, “says Nichols,” and generally respected.“ He had relinquished business in 1836, leaving it to his two sons, Vincent Figgins II and James Figgins, who issued their first specimen book, a handsome quarto, under the style of V. & J. Figgins, in 1838. Mr. Vincent Figgins II died in 1860,[718] when the business was carried on by Mr. James Figgins I and his son, Mr. James Figgins II. On the retirement of the former, then Mr. Alderman Figgins, M.P., the entire management devolved on his son, the present proprietor. The foundry was removed from West Street, Smithfield, to Ray Street, Farringdon Road, in 1865. {344}
LIST OF SPECIMENS, 1792–1832.
- No date. A Specimen of Printing Types by Vincent Figgins, Letter Founder, Swan Yard, Holborn Bridge, London. (1792.) 4to, 2 pp., (J. F.)
- No date. A Specimen of Printing Types by Vincent Figgins, Letter Founder, Swan Yard, Holborn Bridge, London. (1793.) 4to, 5 pp. (J. F.)
- 1794. A Specimen of Printing Types by Vincent Figgins, Letter Founder, Swan Yard, Holborn Bridge, London. 1794. 4to. (W. B.)
- 1802. Specimen of a fount of Télegú Types cast by V. Figgins, London. 1802. folio. (J. F.)
- (Also in quarto.)
- No date. Specimen of 2-line Letters cast by Vincent Figgins, West Street, West Smithfield, London. Broadside. (1802.?) (J. F.)
- 1815. Specimen of Printing Types by Vincent Figgins, Letter Founder, West Street, West Smithfield, London, 1815. 8vo. (Ox. Univ. Pr.)
- 1817. Newspaper Founts cast by Vincent Figgins, West Street, West Smithfield, London, 1817. Broadside. (Ox. Univ. Pr.)
- 1821. Specimen of Printing Types by Vincent Figgins, Letter Founder, West Street, West Smithfield, London, 1821. 8vo. (J. F.)
- (Re-issued with additions 1822 and 1823.)
- 1824. Specimen of Printing Types by Vincent Figgins, Letter Founder, West Street, West Smithfield, London, 1824. 8vo. (Caxt. Cel. 4403.)
- 1826. Specimen of Printing Types by Vincent Figgins, Letter Founder, West Street, West Smithfield, London, 1826. 8vo. (J. F.)
- 1827. Specimen of Printing Types by Vincent Figgins, Letter Founder, London, 1827. 16mo. (Caxt. Cel. 4408.)
- 1832. Specimen of Printing Types by Vincent Figgins, Letter Founder, West Street, West Smithfield, London, 1832. 8vo. (Caxt. Cel. 4417.)
