Paul Shaw Letter Design » Blue Pencil no. 61

7 September 2022

Previously:

Blue Pencil no. 51—ITC as a Pioneer of Diversity in Type Design

Blue Pencil no. 61—Type Specimens 1486 to 1704

This is the first of a series of posts listing type specimens that have been digitized and placed online. Many of them are downloadable in whole or as individual pages.

Warning: accurate dating of type specimens is notoriously complicated. The dates listed here come from the various institutions and organizations that have digitized them. In most cases they have not consulted with a type specialist and thus there are mistakes. Whenever I have noticed such a mistake or when one has been brought to my attention I have included that information here.

Index of Selected Type Designers, Punchcutters and Type Foundries
Arrighi, Ludovico Vicentino degli—1529
Garamont, Claude—1592 (2), 1622, and 1664
Granjon, Robert—1592 (2), 1622, and 1664
Guyot, François—1565
Janson, Anton—1671 (2), c.1675, 1678 (2), c.1680, 1683, and 1687 (2)
Le Bé, Guillaume—1546 and 1602
Luthersche Schriftgiesserei—1664, 1665, and 1678 (2)
Moreau, Pierre—1645
Ratdolt, Erhard—1486
Schmidt, Johann—c.1670, c.1674, and 1677
Voskens, Bartolomaeus—c.1665 (2)
Voskens, Reinhard—c.1668 and c.1670 (3)
Voskens, Dirk—c.1695
Walpergen, Peter de—c.1676, 1686, and 1695 (2)

1486

Indicis characterum diversarum manerierum impressioni paratarum
Erhard Ratdolt
Augsburg [Germany] 1486
broadside
Münchener Digitalisierungs Zentrum Digitale Bibliothek

Jeffrey Norman’s History of Information

1529

Ludovico Vicentino degli Arrighi and Lautizio Perugino
Vicenza: Tolomeo Janiculo, 1529
type specimen sheet
Columbia University Libraries

Harvard Library Digital Collections

1546–1574

[Spécimens de caractères hébreux gravés à Venise et à Paris par Guillaume Le Bé (1546–1574)]
manuscript with pasted-in samples of Hebrew types cut by Guillaume Le Bé between 1546 and 1574
BnF Gallica

Spécimens de caractères hébreux, grecs, latins et de musique, gravés à Venise et à Paris par Guillaume Le Bé (1545–1592)
Henri Omont
Nogent-le-Rotrou [France]: Impr. de Daupeley-Gouverneur, 1889
facsimile
BnF Gallica
[Birrell & Garnett no. 32]

Grosse Hebrew by Guillaume Le Bé (1548)

1565

François Guyot
[London]
type specimen sheet with gloss
Folger Shakespeare Library

1567

Index Sive Specimen Charactervm Christophori Plantini
Christophe Plantin
Antwerp 1567
Flandrica

Museum Plantin-Moretus

Plantin’s Index Characterum of 1567
Introduction by Douglas C. McMurtrie
New York: Pynson Printers and Argentographica, Ltd., 1924
Hathitrust
facsimile
[Type Specimen Facsimiles 16–18, No. 16]

III. Tvscvl. from Index Sive Specimen Charactervm Christophori Plantini (1567). The typeface is Claude Garamont’s Two-Line Double Pica Roman (Gros-canon) of 1549.

1582

Aufdruksel van alle de letteren beuonden inden…
Leiden [Netherlands]: Willem Silvius 1582
type specimen sheet
Brill
[scroll to p. 2 for a photograph of the left side (verso) of the broadside; from “The Leiden ‘Afdrucksel’. A Type Specimen of the Press of Willem Silvius in Its Last Days (1582)” by Paul Valkema Blouw in Dutch Typography in the Sixteenth Century edited by Ton Croiset van Uchelen and Paul Dijstelberge (Leiden: Brill, 2013), pp. 33–52.]

1592

Specimen Charactervm Sev Typorvm Latinorvm Probatissimorvm, Incondite Quidem, Sed Secundvm Svas Tamen Differentias Propositvm, Tam Ipsis Librorvm Autoribvs, […]
Frankfurt: Conrad Berner 1592
Goethe Universität
Schriftprobensammlung Gustav Mori 1:19
broadside [known as the Egenolff-Berner specimen sheet of 1592; with typefaces by Claude Garamont and Robert Granjon]
[Type Specimen Facsimiles 1–15, Plate 2]
[Mori 38]

Specimen Charactervm sev Typorvm Probatissimorvm…
Frankfurt: Conrad Berner 1592
Linotype
broadside [known as the Egenolff-Berner specimen sheet of 1592; with typefaces by Claude Garamont and Robert Granjon]
[Type Specimen Facsimiles 1–15, Plate 2]
[Mori 38]

1602

Compendium linguæ arabicæ
Paris: Guillaume Le Bé, 1602
BnF Gallica
manuscript

1616

Typorum & Characterum Officinae Chalcographicae, Georgii-Leopoldi Fuhrmanni, Civis & Bibliopolae Norici…
Nuremberg: Georg Leopold Fuhrmann, 1616
SLUB Digitale Sammlungen
[Blades pp. 13–14]

Typorum & Characterum Officinae Chalcographicae, Georgii-Leopoldi Fuhrmanni, Civis & Bibliopolae Norici…
Nuremberg: Georg Leopold Fuhrmann, 1616
Internet Archive / St. Bride Library
[the type specimen can be found between images 23 and 133]
[Blades pp. 13–14]

Grosse Canon Fraktur from Typorum & Characterum Officinae Chalcographicae… (1616).

1622

Specimen Charactervm Sev Typorvm Latinorvm Probatissimorvm, Incondite Quidem, Sed Secundvm Svas Tamen Differentias Propositvm, Tam Ipsis Librorvm Autoribvs, […]
Frankfurt am Main: Johann Berner 1622
Goethe Universität
Schriftprobensammlung Gustav Mori 1:20
type specimen sheet
[Type Specimen Facsimiles 1–15, Plate 3]
[Mori 39]

1628

Indice de caratteri, Con l’Inuentori, & nomi di essi esistenti nella Stampa Vaticana & Camerale…
Andrea Brogiotti
Rome: Stampa Vaticana 1628
Google Books
[Blades p. 14]
[Birrell & Garnett no. 2]

Indice de caratteri, Con l’Inuentori, & nomi di essi esistenti nella Stampa Vaticana & Camerale…
Andrea Brogiotti
Rome: Stampa Vaticana 1628
Internet Archive / St. Bride Library
[first copy]
[Blades p. 14]
[Birrell & Garnett no. 2]

Indice de caratteri, Con l’Inuentori, & nomi di essi esistenti nella Stampa Vaticana & Camerale…
Andrea Brogiotti
Rome: Stampa Vaticana 1628
Internet Archive / St. Bride Library
[second copy]
[Blades p. 14]
[Birrell & Garnett no. 2]

1634

Orthotypographia. Das ist: Ein kurtzer Unterricht, für diejenigen, die gedruckte Werck corrigiren wollen
Hieronymus Hornschuch
Leipzig: Gregorio Ritzschens Buchdruckerey, 1634. [2nd edition]
SLUB Digitale Sammlungen

There is a specimen of the types in Gregorio Ritzsch’s printing establishment (Hebrew, Greek, roman, italic, fraktur, and musical notes) on pp. 39–48. John A. Lane kindly called my attention to this specimen.

[1636]

Alphabetum Cophtum siue Aegyptiacum
[Typis Sacrae Congregatio de Propaganda Fide]
Hathitrust
[Birrell & Garnett (no. 9) c.1670]

John A. Lane notes that the Propaganda Fide alphabets are not actually type specimens, though he is glad they have been included in these lists. This one he dates c.1634/1636.

1645

Alphabeth
Paris: Pierre Moreau 1645
Les Bibliothèques Virtuelles Humanistes

1663

Balthasar Koblen
[Noten-Probe] [Vigeral Noten] / [Balthasar Köblen]
[Constantz: Koblen 1663]
Goethe Universität
Schriftprobensammlung Gustav Mori 2:56a
fragments of music type

John A. Lane says, “As far as I can judge from the digital images, the item with the manuscript date ‘1663’ is a set of smoke proofs rather than a specimen printed from type.”

1664

Obgemelte schrifften Prob vnd Abguß, findet man vmb die gebühr zugiessen, theils zuverkauffen? / bey mir Johann Philip Fievet, Burgern, vnd Schriftgiessern […]
Frankfurt am Main: Johann Philip Fievet 1664
Goethe Universität
Schriftprobensammlung Gustav Mori 2:7
type specimen sheet
[Type Specimen Facsimiles 1–15, Plate 4]
[Mori 52]

Specimen Characterum Sev Typorvm Latinorum Probatissimorum, Incondite Quidem, Sed Secundvm Svas Tamen Differentias Propositvm, Tam Ipsis Librorvm Autoribvs, […]
Frankfurt am Main: Johann Erasmus Luther [Egenolff-Luthersche Schriftgießerei] 1664
Goethe Universität
Schriftprobensammlung Gustav Mori 2:1
type specimen sheet
[Mori 40]

Upper portion of type specimen from Johann Erasmus Luther 1664 with typefaces by Claude Garamont and Robert Granjon. Image from Goethe Universität Schriftprobensammlung Gustav Mori.

1665

Obgesetzte Capitalia, so nach Gelegenheit jeder Schrifft, auff zwo Zeil gericht, sonderlich aber zu schönen Tituln geordnet, findet man umb die Gebühr […]
Frankfurt am Main: Johann Erasmus Luther [Egenolff-Luthersche Schriftgießerei] 1665
Goethe Universität
Schriftprobensammlung Gustav Mori 2:2
type specimen sheet
[Mori 41]

c.1665

Proben, von die Fürnehmsten Matryssen und Schriften : in die Giesserey von Bartholomeus Voskens Schrift-schneyder und Giesser, itzt Wohnhaftich in Hamburg […]
Hamburg: Bartholomäus Voskens, [c.1665]
Goethe Universität
Schriftprobensammlung Gustav Mori 1:45
type specimen sheet
[Type Specimen Facsimiles 1–15, Plate 6—dated c.1660]
[Mori 98—dated c.1670]

Bartolomeus Voskens
Hamburg c.1665
Hathitrust
[reproduced in “The Brothers Vosken and Their Successors” by Douglas C. McMurtrie in The Inland Printer vol. 74, no. 1 (October 1924), pp. 59–66.]

Bartolomäus Voskens type specimen c.1665. Image from Goethe Universität Schriftprobensammlung Gustav Mori.

John A. Lane suggests a date of c. 1663/1668 for this specimen. He says that the syriac type was cut for Gutbier’s New Testament (with a letterpress title-page dated 1664 but an engraved title-page dated 1663, suggesting work on the book was sufficiently advanced that it was intended for publication in 1663). Thus, the type was probably cut in or shortly before 1663 and, at the latest, 1668 since Bartolomäus Voskens was back in Amsterdam by November 9 of that year..

c.1668

Reinhard Voskens
[Antiqua- und Kursivprobe]
[Frankfurt am Main: Reinhard Voskens c. 1668]
Goethe Universität
Schriftprobensammlung Gustav Mori 2:11 [c.1670]
type specimen sheet

John A. Lane: “All we know for sure about the death of Reinier Voskens is that he did not die in Frankfurt—he probably still lived there but was travelling when he died—and that he died between 1665 and 1677. But he probably died before 23 October 1673, when J. A. Schmidt registered as a Frankfurt citizen. The manuscript note on the specimen, stating that Schmidt is now operating the foundry in the house of Voskens’s widow, probably dates from around that time. (Schmidt would probably have to take up citizenship to operate the foundry.). Since the note seems to suggest that the foundry was reopening after a closure due to Reinier’s death, we can guess he died in or before 1672, suggesting a latest possible date for this specimen. It’s hard to set an earliest possible date, although I have found the Canon italic in 1661, but have not so far found the Parangon italic before 1672. I think it would be pretty safe to date it c. 1663/1673 or more likely c. 1665/1672. For the Voskens family and the dating of their specimens in general, see my Early type specimens in the Plantin-Moretus Museum and my Quaerendo article on the printing office of Israel de Paull, etc. (e.g. note 8).”

1669

Diese Schriften sein allesambt zubekommen / bey Conrad Baumann Schriftschneider, wie auch Schriftgiesern in Nürnberg
Nürnberg: Conrad Baumann 1669
Goethe Universität
Schriftprobensammlung Gustav Mori 1:56
type specimen sheet
[Mori 145]

c.1670

Reinhard Voskens
Frankfurt c.1670
Hathitrust
[reproduced in “The Brothers Vosken and Their Successors” by Douglas C. McMurtrie in The Inland Printer vol. 74, no. 1 (October 1924), pp. 59–66.]
[Type Specimen Facsimiles 1–15, Plate 7]

Anfang Etlicher Abdrucken der Proben von meiner Mit Eigener Handt geschnittenen Schrifften, Buchstaben, und andere Sachen… : Zu Finden bey mir / Reinhard Voskens […]
Frankfurt am Main: Reinhard Voskens c. 1670
Goethe Universität
Schriftprobensammlung Gustav Mori 2:10
type specimen sheet
[Type Specimen Facsimiles 1–15, Plate 7]
[Mori 54]

Mittel Antiqua / Reinhard Voskens. Sculpsit. &. Ecudit
Frankfurt am Main: Reinhard Voskens c. 1670
Goethe Universität
Schriftprobensammlung Gustav Mori 3:7b
fragment

Mittel Antiqua / Schmidt, Johann Adolph
[Frankfurt am Main: Johann Adolph Schmidt c. 1670]
Goethe Universität
Schriftprobensammlung Gustav Mori 3:7a
fragment with another fragment showing fraktur, kurrentschrift and music types

Type specimen by Reinhard Voskens 1670. Image from Goethe Universität Schriftprobensammlung Gustav Mori.

1671

[Fraktur-Probe] Obgesetzter Schrifften Prob und Abguß, findet man umb die Gebühr zu giessen, theils auch zu verkauffen / bey mir Anthoni Janson, Schrifftgießer […]
Leipzig: Anton Janson 1671
Goethe Universität
Schriftprobensammlung Gustav Mori 2:13
type specimen sheet
[Mori 103]

[Antiqua-Probe] Obgesetzter Schrifften Prob und Abguß, findet man umb die Gebühr zu giessen, theils auch zuverkauffen / bey mir Anthoni Janson, Schrifftgießer […]
Leipzig: Anton Janson 1671
Goethe Universität
Schriftprobensammlung Gustav Mori 2:14
type specimen sheet with top missing
[Mori 104]

1673

Obgesetzter Schrifften Prob und Abguß findet man umb die Gebühr zu giessen, auch theils zu verkauffen / bey mir Cyriaco Pistorio Burgern und Schrifftgiessern, […]
Basel: Cyriakus Pistorius 1673
Goethe Universität
Schriftprobensammlung Gustav Mori 2:36
type specimen sheet
[Mori 6]

c.1674

[Zierleisten] / [Johann Adolph Schmidt]
Goethe Universität
Schriftprobensammlung Gustav Mori 2:59
[Frankfurt am Main: Johann Adolph Schmidt c. 1674]
specimen sheet of ornaments

1675

Obgemelte schrifften Prob und Abgü., findet Man umb die gebühr zugiessen / bey mir Johann Adolph Schmid Burgern, und Schrifftgiessern wie auch Schrifft-schneider […]
Frankfurt am Main: Johann Adolph Schmid [Schmidt] 1675
Goethe Universität
Schriftprobensammlung Gustav Mori 2:20
type specimen sheet
[Mori 55]

Abguß derer Oriental. Schrifften / so bey mir Anton Janson, Schriftgiessern in Leipzig zufinden
Leipzig: Anton Janson, 1675
Goethe Universität
Schriftprobensammlung Gustav Mori 2:20
type specimen sheet
[Mori 112]

c.1675

Pankraz Lobinger
[Lobingers Garmond Fractur]
c. 1675
Goethe Universität
Schriftprobensammlung Gustav Mori 2:57c and 3:8
part of a group of fragments cut out of published books dated c.1675 to 1714

John A. Lane: “As far as I can judge from the digital images, the item showing the largest fraktur is a set of smoke proofs rather than a specimen printed from type.”

1676–1702

A Specimen of the Types attributable to Peter de Walpergen, cut for the University of Oxford 1676–1702
Oxford: Oxford University Press 1957
Goethe Universität
Schriftprobensammlung Gustav Mori
type specimen sheet
[see The Fell Types: The Roman, Italic & Black Letter Bequeathed to The University of Oxford by John Fell by Stanley Morison (Oxford: Oxford University Press, 1950)]

1677

Obgemelte schrifften Prob vnd abgü. : findet Man vmb die gebühr zu giessen / bey mir Johann Adolph Schmid Burgern, vnd Schrifftgiessern wie auch Schrifft-schneidern […]
Frankfurt am Main: Johann Adolph Schmid [Schmidt], 1677
Goethe Universität
Schriftprobensammlung Gustav Mori 1:25 and 3:7
type specimen sheet
[Mori 56]

1678

Obgesetzter Schrifften Prob und Abguß, findet man umb die Gebühr zu giessen, theils auch zu verkauffen / bei mir Anthoni Janson, Schrifftgießer in Leipzig […]
Leipzig: Anton Janson 1678
Goethe Universität
Schriftprobensammlung Gustav Mori 2:15
type specimen sheet
[Mori 106]

Obengesetzte Schrifften, findet man zu giesen, theils auch zu verkauffen / bey Johann Erasmo Luther Schrifftgiesern in Franckfurt am Mayn, allen Buchhändelern […]
Frankfurt am Main: Johann Erasmus Luther [Egenolff-Luthersche Schriftgießerei] 1678
Goethe Universität
Schriftprobensammlung Gustav Mori 1:21
type specimen sheet
[Mori 44]

Specimen Praecipuorum Typorum, Qui In Caesareo-Academica S. J. Pragensi Ad S. Clementem Typographia Per Decursum Duorum Annorum MDCLXXVII. Et MDCLXXVIII. […]
Prague: [Johann Erasmus Luther] 1678
Goethe Universität
Schriftprobensammlung Gustav Mori 1:66
type specimen sheet
[Mori 270]

John Lane says of this specimen:

“This is a specimen of the printing office of the Imperial Jesuit College in Prague, housed in part of the complex known as the Clementinum, which began with an 11th-century chapel dedicated to Saint Clement, hence the wording of the Latin title: Specimen præcipuorum typorum, qui in Cæsareo-Academica S.J. Pragensi ad S. Clementem typographia … . This complex also housed the University Library, and the Jesuit College had become part of the University in 1654. The abbreviation A.M.D.G. in the foot of the specimen stands for the Jesuit motto, ‘Ad maiorem Dei gloriam’ (For the greater glory of God). The title indicates that the types shown in the specimen were acquired in the course of 1677 and 1678, so the specimen was probably issued in late 1678 or early 1679, but it is not actually dated. Each type shown (including the six used for the title) has a heading in small type indicating the type size and style, the typefounder and the date the printing office acquired it. The punchcutter and typefounder Pancratz Lobinger in Salzburg cast the the larger ones (Parangon and larger: ‘Pancrat: Lobinger Salisburgi fudit’, mostly abbreviated to ‘P.L.’) and the typefounder Johann Erasmus Luther in Frankfurt cast the smaller ones (Text and smaller: ‘Ioan: Erasm: Luther Francofurti fudit’, mostly abbreviated to ‘I.E.L.’). Although the specimen says nothing about the cutting of the types, at least most of the romans and italics attributed to Lobinger’s foundry show a consistent style and were quite new at this date, so one would think he cut them himself, but Thun, Formatbuch (Lübeck: 1714), says he was renowned for his fraktur types and his brother Johann for his roman types (not seen: I rely on James Mosley, A Dictionary of Punchcutters [distributed by the author, 1999]). It therefore remains uncertain whether the types cast by Pancratz Lobinger were cut by him or by his brother Johann. The specimen shows 27 types (5 sizes of roman titling capitals, 1 size of italic titling capitals, 10 romans, 9 italics and 2 Greeks), 12 acquired in 1677 and 15 in 1678. Three or four of the smaller titling capitals probably served as capitals for the two or three largest romans and the largest italic (since the specimens of roman and italic for these sizes show only one capital each, it is sometimes difficult to be sure they match the titling capitals). The headings indicate that the printing office acquired the titling capitals and the Romana and Text roman and italic from Lobinger and the two small Greek types (Cicero and Garmond) from Luther in 1677; and the Maior Canon roman and Minor Canon roman and italic from Lobinger and the six smaller sizes of roman and italic (Parangon to Petit) from Luther in 1678. The decorative border shows five different typographic ornaments. The texts of the sample settings come from a wide variety of Latin sources, including the Biblical Proverbs, Seneca, Boëthius, Horace, Guigo, etc., and the Greek from Æsop. This specimen probably lead to what, as far as I know, are erroneous claims that Lobinger issued a specimen at Salzburg in 1678 (Biedermann, Jolles et al., Die deutsche Schriftgießerei [1923], p. 247, and many later sources).”

Specimen Characterum Seu Typorum Latinorum Probatissimorum, Incondite Quidem, Sed Secundum Suas Tamen Differentias Propositum, Tam Ipsis Librorum Autoribus, […]
Leipzig: Anton Janson 1678
Goethe Universität
Schriftprobensammlung Gustav Mori
type specimen sheet

Upper portion of type specimen showing roman types by Anton Janson 1678. Image from Goethe Universität Schriftprobensammlung Gustav Mori.

c.1680

Kleine Missal / Leipzig, by Anton Janson zufinden
Leipzig: Anton Janson c.1680]
Goethe Universität
Schriftprobensammlung Gustav Mori
fragment

Pankraz Lobinger
[Antiqua- und Fraktur-Probe] / [Pankraz Lobinger]
[Nuremberg: c. 1680 ]
Goethe Universität
Schriftprobensammlung Gustav Mori 2:58
partial type specimen sheet

Pankraz Lobinger
Neue Sabon Fractur
[Vienna: Pankraz Lobinger c. 1680]
Goethe Universität
Schriftprobensammlung Gustav Mori
fragment

Klein Missal fraktur type specimen by Anton Janson c.1680–1685. Image from Goethe Universität Schriftprobensammlung Gustav Mori.

1682

Obgemelde Schrifften und Prob findt man zu giessen um einen billigen Preiß auch theils zuverkauffen / bey Johann Daniel Fievet Schriftgiessern in Franckfurt […]
Frankfurt am Main: Johann Daniel Fievet 1682
Goethe Universität
Schriftprobensammlung Gustav Mori 2:8
type specimen sheet
[Type Specimen Facsimiles 1–15, Plate 5]
[Mori 53]

Johann Wilhelm Ammon
[Schwabacher- und Versalien-Probe] / [Joh. Wilh. Ammon]
[Nuremberg: 1682]
Goethe Universität
Schriftprobensammlung Gustav Mori 2:57d
part of a group of fragments dated c.1675 to 1714 [see also c.1675]

1683

Specimen Characterum Seu Typorum Latinorum Probatissimorum, Incondite Quidem, Sed Secundum Suas Tamen Differentias Propositum, Tam Ipsis Librorum Autoribus, […]
Leipzig: Anton Janson 1683
Goethe Universität
Schriftprobensammlung Gustav Mori 2:17
type specimen sheet
[Mori 108]

1686

Christ Church Specimen of Type
Oxford: [Dr. John Fell] 1686
Digital Bodleian
[12 leaves]

[Mosley 169 who dates the specimen c.1687]

folio a2 verso from Christ Church Specimen of Type (1686). Shelfmark Christ Church D.124(3), Christ Church, University of Oxford.

1687

Specimen Characterum Seu Typorum Latinorum Probatissimorum, Incondite Quidem, Sed Secundum Suas Tamen Differentias Propositum, Tam Ipsis Librorum Autoribus, […]
Leipzig: Anton Janson 1687
Goethe Universität
Schriftprobensammlung Gustav Mori 2:19
type specimen sheet
[Mori 110]

Obgesetzter Schrifften Prob und Abguß findet man umb die Gebühr zu giessen, theils auch zu verkauffen / bey mir Anthon Janson, Schrifftgiessern in Leipzig […]
Leipzig: Anton Janson 1687
Goethe Universität
Schriftprobensammlung Gustav Mori 2:18
type specimen sheet
[Mori 109]

1689

Specimen Characterum Seu Typorum Latinorum Probatissimorum, Incondite Qvidem, Sed Secundum Suas Tamen Differentias Propositum, Tam Ipsis Librorum Autoribus, […]
Leipzig: Johann Carl Edling 1689
Goethe Universität
Schriftprobensammlung Gustav Mori 2:23
type specimen sheet

Obgesetzter Schrifften Prob und Abguß findet man umb die Gebühr zu gissen, theils auch zu verkauffen / bey mir Johann Carl Edling, Schriftgiesser in Leipzig […]
Leipzig: Johann Carl Edling 1689
Goethe Universität
Schriftprobensammlung Gustav Mori 2:21
type specimen sheet
[Mori 116]

c.1689

Johann Karl Edling
Zuverschencken ist hier nicht, Sondern alles zuverkauffen …
[Leipzig: Johann Carl Edling c.1689]
Goethe Universität
Schriftprobensammlung Gustav Mori
broadside poem set in fraktur

Johann Karl Edling
Omnia venduntur, pro nil nil sumere possum…
[Leipzig: Johann Carl Edling c.1689]
Goethe Universität
Schriftprobensammlung Gustav Mori
broadside text set in roman

1690

Diese Schriften alle, kan man den Zentner oder Gewicht nach zu Giessen bekommen / bey Constantinus Hartwigk Burger und Schriftgießer in Nürnberg
Nuremberg: Konstantin Hartwig 1690
Goethe Universität
Schriftprobensammlung Gustav Mori 1:59
type specimen sheet
[Mori 152]

c.1690

Diese Schrifften seyn allesambt bey Conrad Baumanns, Schrifftschneider und Schrifftgiesern, hinterlassene Wittibe, zubekommen in Nürnberg
Nuremberg: Widow of Conrad Baumann [c.1690]
Goethe Universität
Schriftprobensammlung Gustav Mori 2:9
type specimen sheet
[Mori 144]

Johann Georg Bauman
[Fraktur-Probe] / [Zufinden bey Johann Georg Bauman Schriftschneider und Schriftgießer in Nürnberg]
[Nuremberg: Johann Georg Baumann c.1690]
Goethe Universität
Schriftprobensammlung Gustav Mori 1:57
trimmed specimen sheet with portion cut out
[Mori 146]

Type specimen published by the widow of Conrad Baumann c.1690. Image from Goethe Universität Schriftprobensammlung Gustav Mori.

1693

Georg Gottlieb Burchard
[Antiqua-Probe] / [Georgi] Burchardi
Stockholm: 1693
Goethe Universität
Schriftprobensammlung Gustav Mori 1:47
trimmed type specimen in the form of a letter (in Latin) to King Charles XI of Sweden set in roman

c.1693

Georg Gottlieb Burchard
Probe Derer zur Schwedischen Biebel gewidmeten Schrifften: Grobe Petit Fractur und Schwabacher
[Stockholm: Georg Gottlieb Burchard c.1693]
Goethe Universität
Schriftprobensammlung Gustav Mori 2:25
three fragments (one dated 1693)
[Mori 271]

[Fraktur-Probe] / Georg. Gottl. Burchard
[Stockholm: Georg Gottlieb Burchard c.1693]
Goethe Universität
Schriftprobensammlung Gustav Mori 1:48
trimmed type specimen in the form of a letter (in German) to King Charles XI of Sweden set in fraktur [undated but 1693]

1695

A Specimen of the Several Sorts of Letter Given to the University by Dr. John Fell,: sometime Lord Bishop of Oxford. To which is Added the Letter Given by Mr. F. Junius
Oxford 1695
Digital Bodleian
[Blades p. 5]
[Birrell & Garnett (no. 78) 1693]
[Berry & Johnson Oxford University Press pp. 6–7]
[Mosley 171]

A Specimen of Fell Type 1685 [in Facsimile]
Notes by Philip Hofer
Cambridge, Massachusetts: Department of Printing and Graphic Arts, Harvard University and Meriden, Connecticut: The Columbiad Club, 1940
Hathitrust
[reproduces a broadside]

c.1695

Specimen Characterum Seu Typorum Latinorum Probatissimorum, Incondite Quidem, Sed Secundum Suas Tamen Differentias Propositum, Tam Ipsis Librorum Autoribus, […]
[Nuremberg: Johann Georg Baumann c.1695]
Goethe Universität
Schriftprobensammlung Gustav Mori
type specimen sheet

Proef Van Letteren, Die te bekomen zyn By de Weduwe van D. Voskens, Letter-Snyder-en Gieter, op de Bloem-graft, tot Amsterdam Voskens, Dirk
Amsterdam: Widow of D. Voskens [c.1695]
Goethe Universität
Schriftprobensammlung Gustav Mori
type specimen sheet

John A. Lane says: “Dirk Voskens was buried 28 June 1691 so the specimens issued by his widow (without her sons) were probably issued soon after that. The latest possible date is more difficult. I have noted evidence (but not proof) that they were all issued by 1694 (if I remember right most are clearly documented in or before 1697), but I think 1691 or 1692 is more likely. It would be safe to say c. 1691/1694.”

1698

Diese sich allhier befindende Schrifften, findet man um einen gantz billigen Preyß zu giessen / bey mir Joachim Ernst, Schrifftgiessern in Jena …
Jena: Joachim Ernst 1698
Goethe Universität
Schriftprobensammlung Gustav Mori 2;26
type specimen sheet
[Mori 1oo]

1699

Obenstehende Röslen-Prob vnd Abguß, findet man vmb die Gebühr zuverfertigen / bey Jeremias Stenglin, in Augstburg …
Augsburg: Jeremias Stenglin 1699
Goethe Universität
Schriftprobensammlung Gustav Mori 2:27
type specimen sheet
[Mori 2]

[Fractur] / [Joh. Georg Baumann]
Nuremberg: Johann Georg Baumann 1699
Goethe Universität
Schriftprobensammlung Gustav Mori
fragment of fraktur with music types (see 1663)

John A. Lane notes that this item (and several others from the Schriftprobensammlung Gustav Mori) are “collections of fragments of various dates and from various sources; and that some of them are not type specimens at all.”

Specimen Characterum Seu Typorum Latinorum Probatissimorum, Incondite Quidem, Sed Secundum Suas Tamen Differentias Propositum, Tam Ipsis Librorum Autoribus, […]
Nuremberg: Johann Georg Baumann 1699
Goethe Universität
Schriftprobensammlung Gustav Mori 1:60
type specimen sheet
[Mori 148]

c.1699

Dieser Schrifften Prob, und Abguß findet man, um eienen billichen Preiß / bey mir Johann Georg Baumann Schrifftschneider und Schrifftgießer Wohnhafft neben […]
Nuremberg: Johann Georg Baumann [c.1699]
Goethe Universität
Schriftprobensammlung Gustav Mori 1:62
type specimen sheet with portion cut out
[Mori 149]

1704

Description et perfection des arts et métiers, des arts de construire les caractères, de graver les poinçons de lettres, de fondre les lettres, d’imprimer les lettres et de relier les livres, par monsieur Jaugeon, de l’Accadémie roale des Sciences 1704
BnF Gallica|
[manuscript about the Romain du Roi; BnF MS 9157—start at image 331]

“Construction de la Lettre courante Penchée, a.” (p. 426) from Description et perfection des arts et métiers… (1704).

References
Berry & Johnson = Catalogue of Specimens of Printing Types by English and Scottish Printers and Founders 1665–1830 compiled by W. Turner Berry and A.F. Johnson (London: Oxford University Press, Humphrey Milford, 1935).

Birrell & Garnett = Catalogue of Typefounders’ Specimens by Graham Pollard (London: Birrell & Garnett, Ltd., 1928) [part I of a catalogue in 3 parts]

Blades = Some Early Type Specimen Books of England, Holland, France, Italy, and Germany catalogued by William Blades (London: Reprinted from the “Printers’ Register”, 1875)

Type Specimen Facsimiles 1–15 = Type Specimen Facsimiles 1-15: Reproductions of Fifteen Type Specimen Sheets Issued between the Sixteenth and Eighteenth Centuries. Edited by John Dreyfus (London: Bowes & Bowes and Putnam, 1963)

Type Specimen Facsimiles 16–18 =Type Specimen Facsimiles 2: [Nos. 16-18]: Reproductions of Christopher Plantin’s ‘Index sive specimen characterum’ 1567 & Folio Specimen of c.1585, together with the Le Bé-Moretus Specimen, c.1599 by Hendrik D.L. Vervliet and Harry Carter; edited by John Dreyfus (London: The Bodley Head, 1972)

Mori = Schriftproben deutscher Schriftgiessereien und Buchdruckereien aus den Jahren 1479 bis 1840: ein Führer durch die Schriftproben-Ausstellung… by Gustav Mori (Frankfurt am Main: Verein Deutscher Schriftgiessereien, 1926)

Mosley = British Type Specimens before 1831: A Hand-List by James Mosley (Oxford: Oxford Bibliographical Society, Bodleian Library in association with the Dept. of Typography & Graphic Communication, University of Reading, 1984)

“The materials of typefounding: a list of surviving collections” by James Mosley in Printing History New Series no. 4 (July 2008)

Acknowledgements
I want to thank Stephen Coles, Dan Reynolds, and John A. Lane for suggesting items to include in this list; and Bob Richardson and Alicia Chilcott of St. Bride Library for information about their digitized specimens.