It can be seen that the letter whose body-height is ten and a half lines is higher by about two and a half lines than the other type round it, the large and small quads and spaces being only about 8 lines high.

The type is seen from the nick side and the nick faces downwards as with all the type when it is placed in the stick its length and thickness are equal so that its base area is perfectly square.ī the letter S of the word Salut that forms part of the third line in the example shown in figure 6 at the bottom of the plate. Near a corner of this sort of cupboard is seen a folio chase and on the other side a chase without crossbar which is called a Ramette and in which one imposes notices and other work which is not divided into pages.Ī a quad used to fill up white space in a line. The imposing stone which is very flat is supported by a sort of table in which here are drawers holding his equipment. He strikes the block, which is a cube of wood, with the end of the handle of the hammer held in his right hand. Another workman who has imposed two pages in folio format in the chase and is tapping them down with the block held in his left hand so that all the letters are at the same level. Another compositor who is moving a justified line of type from his stick into the galley which is placed over the the small capitals in the case.ģ. 1 A compositor places in the composing stick held in his left hand a letter which he has picked up in his right hand he seems to have his gaze fixed on his copy held in the visorium by the clip that surrounds it.Ģ. Near the ceiling can be seen a number of cords on which the printed sheets are spread out to dry.įig. Beneath the shelves there are cupboards containing the packets of pieces of type, letters, ornaments and various accessories and tools with which the shop is equipped. At the back of the room can be seen the door leading into the press-room there are a number of shelves on which there are boxes of the various type faces with which a print shop must be provided. This room communicates with a second room containing the presses which are illustrated in the plates that follow. The image shows the interior of a room containing the cases and with several compositors setting type. Originally published as 'Imprimerie en caractères,' Encyclopédie ou Dictionnaire raisonné des sciences, des arts et des métiers, vol. Ann Arbor: Michigan Publishing, University of Michigan Library, 2011.

'Letterpress printing.' The Encyclopedia of Diderot & d'Alembert Collaborative Translation Project. of 'Imprimerie en caractères,' Supplément à l'Encyclopédie ou Dictionnaire raisonné des sciences, des arts et des métiers, vol. Please see for information on reproduction. This text is protected by copyright and may be linked to without seeking permission.

Lifestyle letterpress