[731] A Specimen of the Printing Types and Flowers belonging to John Reid, Printer, Bailie Fyfe’s Close, Edinburgh, etc. Edinburgh, 1768. 8vo. All the other founts shown are either Wilson’s or Caslon’s.
[732] History of Printing in America. 2nd Edit. Albany, 1874. i, 31.
[733] The first attempt to introduce type-founding in America had been made by Mitchelson, a Scotchman, in 1768, and failed. In 1769, Abel Buel, of Connecticut, succeeded in casting several founts of Long Primer. Christopher Sower, in 1772, brought over a foundry from Germany to Germantown in Pennsylvania. John Bay also founded in the same town about 1774. Benj. Franklin and his grandson Bache brought over a foundry from France in 1775 to Philadelphia, which, however, had ceased its operations when Baine and his grandson, some ten years later, established their foundry in the same city.
[734] See Abridgments of Specifications relating to Printing, p. 87. See also ante, p. [78].
[735] Typog. Antiq., p. 81. This appears to be the person whom Gough, in his list of departed worthies of the eighteenth century, includes among the letter founders, as “Jurisson, d. 1791”. (Gent. Magaz., lxxiii, part i, p. 161.)
[737] “British Foundry. S. & C. Stephenson respectfully submit the present edition of their Specimen to the public with the hope that they shall continue to experience the flattering encouragement hitherto received, and for which they beg to return their most sincere thanks.
“To those of the Trade who have not hitherto used the Types of the British Foundry, it may be necessary to observe, that they are composed of the very best Metal, and that they are justified to paper and body agreeable to the usual standard.
“As the Establishment of this Foundry comprises eminent engravers on wood and brass, orders in either of these branches will be executed in the best stile of the Art. February, 1797.”
A first part of the specimen appears to have been issued in 1796, and the whole book in 1797.