Hebrew Printing in Sabbioneta 1 AFFO, Ireneo - Schulz-Falster Rare ...

A rare type specimen outlining type faces, both text, display and exotic
fonts, together with borders, rules, ornaments and vignettes oVered by the
innovative typefounder and printer Gillé fils. The type specimen combines
traditional forms of presenting new type faces with ‘promotional’ literature,
and an extensive range of borders and decorative devices. It has clearly
been collected at the time, with circular letters included, and comprehensively
represents Gillé’s type specimens published in the Wrst decade of the
nineteenth century. Also included is the very rare prospectus for a printing
manual (never to be published), the large folding type specimen and the
engraving of the printing press, which are all often lacking. A full listing is
available on request.
Gillé is particularly important as a promoter of the newer styles of ornament,
oVering typographic decoration to the printers of France, in a kind
of stereotype, which he asserted was in design and method of reproduction
destined to overthrow the outdated woodcuts of the Ancien Régime.
(see Fleuron VI, pp. 167V). He also proposes vignette and borders cast on
various type bodies, introduces type faces that resemble hand-writing, and
borders of Greek and classical design.
Amongst French type-founders at the end of the eighteenth and in the
early years of the nineteenth century, Gillés père et fils, held a prominent
positions. Gillé fils ‘was not content to rest on his father’s laurels after taking
over the foundry in 1789. With the help of a work force numbering
between 80 and 100, he added substantially to this father’s range of types
and ornaments. He also made a considerable personal reputation by successfully
combining artistic talent, commercial ambition, and the ability to
keep himself well informed about technical developments in printing at
home and abroad’ (Dreyfuss).
Some of the type stock of Gillé Wls passed into the hands of the printer
susanne schulz-falster rare books