Epreuve d'un nouveau caractere pour l'Imprimerie Royale (second state)
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 cover is purely functional and protective. Its blankness contrasts with the highly formal typography found inside the book.
Steal this when
You are producing a utilitarian reference work that doesn't need to sell itself on the cover. *Collection note: The second state of the Romain du Roi proofs - the grid-built royal type in a later showing.* ---