Morgan Press Types: Specimen Lines from Original Foundry Types in the Morgan Press Collection from 1786-1960

Type specimen book published in 1960 by Morgan Press. 8vo (6.75” x 9.5”), 88 pages, with printed stiff wrappers and plastic comb binding. Per the introduction, “[this] is a unique type specimen book that has been in the making for over 20 years. Many fonts of types, borders, ornaments, and line cuts have come from printing plants all over the country. Most of the 19th century foundry types have gone as ‘old lead’ into the melting pots, but we were able to save nearly 2,000 fonts from this fate. You will find exclusive specimens in this catalog that are not available anywhere else. Over 1,500 selected fonts of early and modern types will be included." Morgan Press was founded in 1958, based on a collection of vintage fonts amassed by Willard Morgan, first director of MoMA’s photography department, and his son Douglas, who ran Morgan Press with his brother Lloyd (Willard’s wife, Barbara Morgan, was the renowned photographer of dancers and choreographers). With its unrivaled collection of Victorian fonts, Morgan Press helped launch the ornamental and expressive eclectic revivalism that challenged orthodox Modernism and characterized Psychedelic 60’s graphic design, supplying Push Pin Studios and many others, and employing John Alcorn of Push Pin as their graphic designer beginning in 1964. While Alcorn’s Wood and Wood 2 type specimen books for Morgan would become iconic examples of 60’s revival design, the present catalog, the first issued by Morgan Press, is where the company established its bona fides, and is scarce in the market compared with the later books. Rubbing to wrappers. Mild rippling to textblock. Minor foxing to verso of front wrapper and first leaf. Content clean and bright.