We have now brought our account of letter-founding at Oxford to the close of the last century. Its later history is of comparatively slight interest. The foundry still remains a part of the Press, and the reputation of the University for its oriental and learned founts has been maintained by numerous additions to its punches and matrices. Of such matters, however, in the absence of periodical general specimens, it is impossible to give particulars. The list of matrices given by Hansard in 1825 is entirely misleading, as he merely summarises the list taken by Mores from the Specimen of 1768–70.
We may, however, observe that at the present moment, under able management, the foundry is in active operation, and that the University Press possesses probably the largest collection of “Polyglot” matrices of any foundry in the kingdom.
The famous gifts of Fell and Junius are now relegated to the relics of this venerable yet still flourishing foundry, where, in company with Baskerville’s Greek, Walpergen’s music and Miss Elstob’s Anglo-Saxon, they rest from their labours, and remain to this day the most interesting monuments our country possesses of the art and mystery of its early letter-founders.
Appended is a list of the various specimens issued by the Oxford press from 1693 to 1794.—
- 1693. A specimen of the Several sorts of Letter given to the University by Dr. John Fell, late Lord Bishop of Oxford. To which is added, the Letter given by Mr. F. Junius. Oxford, printed at the Theater, A.D. 1693. 8vo. (Bodl. C., i, 24, Art.)
- 1695. A specimen of the Several sorts of Letter given to the University by Dr. John Fell, sometime Lord Bishop of Oxford. To which is added the Letter given by Mr. F. Junius. Oxford, Printed at the Theater, A.D. 1695. 8vo. (Bodl. Gough, Ox., 142; B. M. Harl. MS. 1529.)
- 1706. A specimen of the Several sorts of Letters given to the University by Dr. John Fell, sometime Lord Bishop of Oxford. To which is added the Letter given by Mr. F. Junius, Oxford, Printed at the Theater, A.D. 1706, 8vo. (Bodl. Gough, Ox., 142.)
- No date. A specimen of the Several Sorts of Letters in the University Printing House. Oxford. Broadside. (Bodl. C., i, 24, Art.)
- No date. Characteres Anglo-Saxonici per eruditam fœminam Eliz. Elstob ad fidem codd. {163} mss. delineati, quorum tam instrumentis cusoriis quam matricibus Univ. donari curavit E. R. M. e. collegio Regin. A.M. 1753. 8vo leaf. (W. B.)
- 1768–70. A specimen of the Several sorts of Printing Types belonging to the University of Oxford at the Clarendon Printing House, 1768 (together with New Letters purchased in the years 1768, 1769, 1770). Clarendon Press, Sept. 29, 1770. 8vo. (Univ. Pr.)
- 1786. A specimen of the Several sorts of Printing Types belonging to the University of Oxford at the Clarendon Printing House, 1786. 8vo. (Univ. Pr.)
- 1794. A specimen of the Several Sorts of Printing Types belonging to the University of Oxford, at the Clarendon Printing House, 1794. 8vo. (W. B.)
