Catalogue and Book of Specimens of Type Faces and Printing Material and Machinery
The pattern
This still is filed under Specimen as proof.
Define
A specimen (type, material, finish) is shown so the product proves itself under comparison.
Mechanism
Controlled display. Same conditions, side by side, no adjective required. The sample is the sentence.
Verdict
Buyers choose by eye or by hand and we can put the real thing in front of them.
Why it works
The dark cover with ornate blackletter typography projects authority, heritage, and the robust nature of American jobbing foundries at the turn of the century.
Steal this when
When designing a cover for a substantial catalog or compendium where an authoritative, slightly archaic or highly ornamental typographic presence is desired.