[CZECH TYPOGRAPHIC SPECIMEN BOOK] Vzorník písem [Specimen book], Československý kompas, 1949.
Prague: Československý kompas, 1949. Octavo (20.9 × 14.9 cm). Original decorative wrappers; [161] pp. of specimens to rectos and versos. Wrappers with light soil and wear; owner inscription inside front wrapper; else very good. Item #55806
Appealing specimen book of the publishing and printing concern "Československý kompas" (Czechoslovak compass), founded in 1919, which specialized in publishing scientific and reference works, but also printed arts and literary titles in the interwar period. Issued without a title plage, but without a short text which explains that the volume was being published "in the first year of the Five-Year Plan... at a time when we are preparing for future tasks." Nevertheless, this was likely the last specimen book published by the firm, as it was soon to be incorporated into the Orbis publishing conglomerate, which became the largest state-run publishing concern following the Communist takeover and forced nationalization. The book contains a wide variety of specimens, including large poster fonts and wooden types, including pre-war fonts such as Bernhard and Herold poster fonts, as well as lines, ornaments, manicules, in addition to Linotype and Monotype fonts.
As of July 2026, KVK and OCLC only show only one holding worldwide, in North America.
Price: €350.00