Typophile

1923 Specimen Book

Cynnie

I have a huge book for sale if anyone is interested.
Specimen Book and Catalogue 1923. Good condition from Grandpa's library. $350. It looks like it is a typesetter's dream. (Cynnielou@aol.com)

No offense, but that's an outraaaaaaaageous price for that book.

Maybe a little on the high side, but it's a pretty big book!

Here's one on Etsy for $345:

http://www.etsy.com/listing/61707267/super-rare-huge-1923-american-type

Another for $375:

http://www.tomfolio.com/bookdetailssu.asp?b=5274&m=87

Just looked at the sites.........boy someone sure got some use out of the one for $375. Thanks for the sites to check them out Gillo.

There are some out there for much less too! My own copy also has ink splattered on the cover, and a single set of illustrations cut out and taped back in. I don't know how much it cost, though, as it was a gift.

More than $150 is a ripoff for this book. If you’re patient it will turn up in the $100–$150 range on Amazon.

Four copies on Amazon right now from $80 to $350 - I paid $150 several years ago for my copy.

This one has nothing cut out of it. Looks like it wasn't used very much. Mine also has some white splatters on the cover of it but faint.

I got mine for around $125, I think, about a decade ago. It's in good condition. I could see a fine copy going for maybe $200. But unless it’s very fine, pristine actually, I don’t know if you’ll get $350.

And I don’t see the biggest market for this being serious book collectors, so condition is less of a value. As long as the pages are clear, most type hounds will be happy to save a couple hundred and get a fair or good copy and don’t need pristine.

Still, can’t hurt to start as an asking price, I suppose. Good luck.

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