Principia typographica. : The block-books, or xylographic delineations of scripture history; issued in Holland, Flanders and Germany, during the fifteenth century, exemplified and considered in connexion with the origin of printing. To which is added an attempt to elucidate the character of the paper-marks of the period / A work contemplated by the late Samuel Sotheby, and carried out by his son, Samuel Leigh Sotheby
London: Printed for the author by Walter McDowall, and sold by all antiquarian booksellers and printsellers., MDCCCLVIII
Physical Description
3 volumes : facsimiles (some colour) 37 cm.
Contents
v. 1. Holland and the Low countries.--v. 2. Germany.--v. 3. Paper-marks.
Copy Note
Inscribed in black ink on the front free endpaper of Volume 1: “This copy of Principia Typographica is with much respect presented to The President and Council of The Royal Academy in the hope that it may be found worthy of a place in The Library of The Royal Academy. By the author, S. Leigh Sotheby. The Woodlands, Norwood, April 4. 1859.”
Binding Note
Half-bound in green leather. Marbled covers and endpapers. Top-edge gilt. Spine lettered in gilt: `Principia Typographica. S. Leigh Sotheby. Vol. I. [II-III]. Holland and the Low Countries. [Germany, Paper Marks and Summary]. MDCCCLXVIII.’
Subject
Block books
Printing History Origin and antecedents
Watermarks
Printers' marks
Wood-engraving
Type and type-founding History
Illustration of books