Ampersand id

Does anyone id where the classification falls for this antique ampersand? Thanks in advance.

image: DSC00023427.png

DSC00023427.png

Log in to reply   12 replies so far

Very good looking, I’ll say.

Thanks for complement enriquevw. No pin, only guess is condensed 24-line. Any pointers to a specimen similar in type style?

I know I’ve seen something very similar in digital, I will look it up for you and let you know.

It looks like Caslon, but heavier weight.

That was quick!.. the classic Caslon, thanks.

Actually, not quite, classic Caslon. The Caslon foundry only issued one wood type face in its entire history, an 8-line poster font, in the 1890s. Not this one.

Gerald
http://BielerPress.blogspot.com

Actually Gerald, Caslon produced a lot of wood letter. I have had a specimen of theirs from 1890s, one from 1900 and another from 1925. I agree that the ampersand has nothing to do with Caslon in style however. Unfortunately most of my specimens dont show the ampersand. Is there a makers name on it?

Albion

My information is from printed documentation and personal correspondence with the late Justin Howes, who had complete access to the Caslon archival material.

Gerald
http://BielerPress.blogspot.com

Albion

Just to clarify. I guess I should say that the specimen I know of was considered an authentic Caslon, and the only such Caslon the foundry produced in wood. I don’t know anything about other wood type they may have produced. Though I would be very interested in seeing your examples, if you would be so kind.

Gerald
http://BielerPress.blogspot.com

Albion

Sorry to be a pest but I forgot to mention that Howes did do a historical reproduction of various Caslons in digital form. Typeface grouping is Founder’s Caslon. I don’t know if this is available anymore since his death. But I do have it and the Caslon wood type is included.

A bit more on this can be found here:

http://bielerpressii.blogspot.com/2007/07/digital-type-foundries-respond...

Gerald
http://BielerPress.blogspot.com

I have a font of Caslon wood type. I am not at home at the moment so I’ll look at it tonight. Mine was cut by either Hamilton or some other American firm. I’ll look into all of this tonight when I get home.

Rick

My six-line font of “Caslon” has no makers mark on it. It does show up in both Tubbs and Hamilton catalogs in the late nineteenth and early twentieth century under the name “Old Style”.

Rick