The Book: A Global History

A composing frame with two sets of cases of type: the upper case lies at a steeper angle than the lower case. By permission of Oxford University Press.

Images were cut on wood at an early date and used with type to make illustrations or decorations, and sometimes even whole words. This image shows a box of John Fell’s pica italic matrices, with some steel punches for larger capitals beneath them. By permission of Oxford University Press.

The basic structural features of a European bookbinding in the medieval and hand press periods. Line drawing by Chartwell Illustrators..