[a packet of specimens from Stevens, Shanks & Sons]

$120.00

Fonts in Use reports that the “English foundry Stevens, Shanks & Sons was formed in 1933 after merging P.M. Shanks and Sons with Figgins.” And that’s all we know about this foundry because we’ve not done any more research. We’ve just looked at what’s in front of us. We count nine cards with full-alphabet showings of historic metal types. We’re talking Antique 3 and Antique 5 and Clarence Condensed and Figgins Shaded and Antique 6 and so on. (We’re looking at the figure 5 in Antique 6 right now. It is bonkers at 36-point, but reasonable at smaller sizes. [ Also check out the X in Antique 6.]) Anyway, a bunch of types that’re no longer available. That’s what these are—plus a small pile of correspondence related to purchasing type from London and shipping it to Central Massachusetts in the 1970s. No email or downloading of files. Just letters and paper. 

  • Size: 8 × 6 inches
  • Pages: 9 loose leaves plus a handful of letters and notes
  • Binding: Stuffed in a busted envelope
  • Condition: The condition of the enclosing envelope is rough. The cards inside show signs of wear and notations but are largely good. The letters and carbon copies from correspondence are aged and folded but they do the job of conveying information.
  • Publisher: Stevens, Shanks & Sons, 1970s