Origines typographicae.

2 pt. in one vol., 4to: portrait-xi-[1]-260, iv-312 pp.; 10 pl. and 1 tabl. (sl. spotting on first ff. of pt. 2, occ. foxing, also on portrait).

Contemp. calf, gilt-orn. spine with raised bands, a.e.g. (sl. rubbed, joints split, head and tail missing, crack on lower board).

First edition of a classic on the origins of printing. Famous in its time for promoting Laurens Coster in Haarlem as the inventor of printing. The broke new ground by its minute study of early printing types, reproducing samples of them in the 10 finely engr. plates (1 double-page) and a folding letterpress genealogy of Coster. With a portrait of the author and a portrait of L. Coster, coat of arms of the Schottus family (pt. II, p. 159). Copy ruled.
Ref. Bigmore & Wyman II:32-35. - Enschedé, Typefoundries, pp. xix, 206.