[CZECH TYPOGRAPHIC SPECIMEN BOOK] Písma, ozdoby. Tiskárna Dr. Ed. Grégr a syn [Fonts, Ornaments. Dr. Ed. Grégr and Son Printing Company].
Prague: Dr. Ed. Grégr a syn, ca. 1925. Octavo (20 × 14.6 cm). Original card wrappers with publisher's mark to front wrapper; 108, 161–192 pp. of specimens to rectos and versos. Minor wear and discoloration to wrappers; spine title largely faded; internally with pen marks to two pages; else about very good. Item #55810
Appealing specimen book by the long-established Czech publishing and printing concern "Dr. Ed. Grégr a syn", originally founded in 1862 by Julius and Eduard Grégr and later expanded to encompass its own type foundry, stereotyping, and electrotyping operation. In 1910, the company moved into a purpose-built building at Hálkova 2, Prague, where it remained until its eventual nationalization in 1949 following the Communist takeover. The undated specimen contains a wide variety of specimens ranging from text and news fonts to larger decorative and display fonts, as well as lines, ornaments, manicules, and symbols related to the Sokol movement and the Czechoslovak Republic's insignia. Among traditional typefaces including Garamond and Bodoni are Strahov Antiqua, Narciss, Poliphilus, Grégrova, Naudin, Säculum, Fallstaf, Coloniál, Venus grotesk, Fata morgana, Chic, Nero, Bradley, Globus, Piehler, Bayer-Type, Memphis, and others, including German Fraktur cuts as well as a range of Cyrillic specimens. Although the volume does not contain any Hebrew fonts, a short text about Jewish publishing repeats conspicuously as a sample text throughout: "Hebrew writing, graphics, and printing have a very old tradition and one can only lament today that the extremely unstable fate of the Jewish people has not granted them the requisite peaceful and uninterrupted development" (our translation).
As of July 2026, KVK and OCLC only show two holdings, both in North America.
Price: €450.00