Typesetting Collection

Typesetting by hand, Morning Post newspaper, London
A roomful of male compositors in London, typesetting the pages of the Morning Post newspaper by hand

Typesetter at work
A compositor at a the Lund Humphries print works places a small type glyph on a forme rack, finishing a page of imposing surface text prior to inking and printing. Photograph by Heinz Zinram

Typesetter at work, 1800s
Setting type by hand in a print-shop. Hand-colored woodcut of a 19th-century illustration

Advertisement for the linotype composing machine, Linotype Company Limited (colour litho)
7200689 Advertisement for the linotype composing machine, Linotype Company Limited (colour litho) by English School, (19th century); Private Collection; (add.info)

Typesetting printing office, 1904. Creator: Frances Benjamin Johnston
Typesetting printing office, 1904

Interior view of Printing Department, E. T. I. S. 1903. Creator: Unknown
Interior view of Printing Department, E. T. I. S. 1903

G.N. Press Car, between 1913 and 1918. Creator: Harris & Ewing. G.N. Press Car, between 1913 and 1918
G.N. Press Car, between 1913 and 1918. Men in printing workshop

The International Exhibition: Besley's type-casting machine... 1862. Creator: Unknown
The International Exhibition: Besley's type-casting machine - from a photograph by the London Stereoscopic Company, 1862. Machine...exhibited by Messrs

French Renaissance typographic ornaments, (1898). Creator: Unknown
French Renaissance typographic ornaments, (1898). Fig 1: Initial from the time of Louis XII by [Geofroy] Tory. Fig 2: Initial from the time of Francois I by Tory

Students working in print shop, Tuskegee Institute, Alabama, 1902. Creator: Frances Benjamin Johnston
Students working in print shop, Tuskegee Institute, Ala. 1902. [African American students learning printing skills]

John Swain & Son Advertisement
An advertisement for John Swain & Son Ltd, specialists in commercial photography, photo engraving, typesetting, electrotyping and stereotyping

Averys Services Limited Advertisement
An advertisement page promoting Averys Services Limited, specialists in blockmaking, typesetting, foundry work, photography, commercial art and catalogue illustrating

Cigarette Smoke, Knighton & Cutts
This photograph of a smoking cigarette held in a hand, in front of a dark background, is used as a promotion of Knighton & Cutts Ltd, specialists in process engraving, art, photography, typesetting

Portrait Of A Young Lady
A portrait painting of a smiling young lady wearing a black shawl over a red dress, exposing her shoulders. This example, painted by Albert Henry Collings

W. G. Briggs & Co. Ltd Advertisement
A promotional page for W. G. Briggs & Co. Ltd, an advertising company, showing a cluster of portrait photographs of varying types

Some of the modern linotype machines which set the type for The Daily Mail in Northcliffe House in Kensington London. (Centre)

Composing department at a printers (litho)
7200663 Composing department at a printers (litho) by English School, (19th century); Private Collection; (add.info.: Composing department at a printers)

The Book of the Truth of Speech by Jean-Claude Mardrus, 1929 (leather)
CH438764 The Book of the Truth of Speech by Jean-Claude Mardrus, 1929 (leather) by Schmied, Francois-Louis (1873-1941); 33x23.2 cm; Private Collection; (add.info)

John Guttemberg, from Mechanick Exercises: or The Doctrine of Handy-Works applied to
4071276 John Guttemberg, from Mechanick Exercises: or The Doctrine of Handy-Works applied to the Art of Printing, pub. 1683 (engraving) by Mentz

Johannes Gutenberg (chromolitho)
669329 Johannes Gutenberg (chromolitho) by German School, (19th century); Private Collection; (add.info.: Johannes Gutenberg. Educational card.); © Look and Learn

The Setting-up of the First Printing Press in Bristol, 1546, in the Castle Precincts, c
2830941 The Setting-up of the First Printing Press in Bristol, 1546, in the Castle Precincts, c.1917-18 (oil on canvas) by Gotch, Thomas Cooper (1854-1931); Bristol Museum and Art Gallery

A corner of the Composing Department. 1893

The Composing and Distributing Machines (engraving)
1587129 The Composing and Distributing Machines (engraving) by English School, (19th century); Private Collection; (add.info.: The Composing and Distributing Machines)

A Revolution in Printing (engraving)
1598091 A Revolution in Printing (engraving) by English School, (19th century); Private Collection; (add.info.: A Revolution in Printing)

Printers workshop, 17th Century (engraving)
3646944 Printers workshop, 17th Century (engraving) by Werdt, Abraham van (fl.1636-1680); Private Collection; (add.info.: Printers workshop, 17th Century)

Portrait of Johannes Gutenberg (engraving) (b / w photo)
XJF264742 Portrait of Johannes Gutenberg (engraving) (b/w photo) by German School, (15th century); Private Collection; (add.info)

Portrait of Johannes Gutenberg (engraving) (b / w photo)
XJF264741 Portrait of Johannes Gutenberg (engraving) (b/w photo) by German School, (15th century); Private Collection; (add.info)

The offices of the Figaro, 26 rue Drouot, Paris, 1874 (engraving)
CHT430420 The offices of the Figaro, 26 rue Drouot, Paris, 1874 (engraving) by French School, (19th century); Private Collection; (add.info)

Portrait of Johannes Gutenberg (c. 1400-68) (engraving) (b / w photo)
XIR162646 Portrait of Johannes Gutenberg (c.1400-68) (engraving) (b/w photo) by Mentz, Albrecht (15th century) (after); Private Collection; (add.info)

Disciples of Tolstoy, the Colony of Russian Exiles at Christchurch, Hants (b / w photo)
1629485 Disciples of Tolstoy, the Colony of Russian Exiles at Christchurch, Hants (b/w photo) by English Photographer, (20th century); Private Collection; (add.info.: Disciples of Tolstoy)

Operator using a linotype machine in the production of a newspaper (b / w photo)
6000081 Operator using a linotype machine in the production of a newspaper (b/w photo) by English Photographer, (20th century); Private Collection; (add.info)

Hall in Colstons House, Small Street (showing typesetting stands
2831931 Hall in Colstons House, Small Street (showing typesetting stands, desks and a printing press) (drawing, watercolour) by O Neill, Hugh (1784-1824); Bristol Museum and Art Gallery

The Eureka (engraving)
1101336 The Eureka (engraving) by English School, (19th century); Private Collection; (add.info.: The Eureka. Illustration for The Illustrated London News)

The Monotype (engraving)
1042640 The Monotype (engraving) by English School, (19th century); Private Collection; (add.info.: The Monotype. Illustration for The Graphic)

Typesetting (engraving)
1041033 Typesetting (engraving) by English School, (19th century); Private Collection; (add.info.: Typesetting. Illustration for The Graphic)

Typesetters working at the Publishers Printing Co. New York (silver gelatin print)
MNY381221 Typesetters working at the Publishers Printing Co. New York (silver gelatin print) by Byron Company (fl.1890-1942); 19.2x25.4 cm; Museum of the City of New York

The International Exhibition (engraving)
1587741 The International Exhibition (engraving) by English School, (19th century); Private Collection; (add.info.: The International Exhibition)

Printing-Office (The Victoria Press) in Great Coram-Street, for the Employment of Women as Compositors (engraving)
1612997 Printing-Office (The Victoria Press) in Great Coram-Street, for the Employment of Women as Compositors (engraving) by English School

Typesetters composing stick (chromolitho)
977658 Typesetters composing stick (chromolitho) by French School, (19th century); Private Collection; (add.info.: Typesetters composing stick)

The story of a newspaper (colour litho)
3099304 The story of a newspaper (colour litho) by French School, (19th century); Private Collection; (add.info.: The story of a newspaper)

Evening Gazette Newspaper Print Site, Circa 1973

Antoine Vitre, typrographe du roi. Creator: Jean Morin
Antoine Vitre, typrographe du roi

Porson, (1759- 1808), 1830. Creator: Unknown
Porson, (1759- 1808), 1830. Richard Porson (1759- 1808) English classical scholar educated at Eton College and Trinity College, Cambridge. The Greek typeface Porson was based on his handwriting

View of Foundry, Southwark Street, 1909. Creator: Unknown
View of Foundry, Southwark Street, 1909. From " The British Printer Vol. XXII". [Raithby, Lawrence & Co. Ltd, London and Leicester, 1909]

Progress in Typefounding - The Blackfriars Type Foundry, 1909. Creator: Unknown
Progress in Typefounding - The Blackfriars Type Foundry, 1909. From " The British Printer Vol. XXII". [Raithby, Lawrence & Co. Ltd, London and Leicester, 1909]

At Work in the Printing-Office, 1881. Creator: Unknown
At Work in the Printing-Office, 1881. From " St. Nicholas: Volume VIII. Part I. November 1880, to May 1881". [Scribner & Co. New York, 1881]

John Guttemberg, pub. 1683 (engraving). Creator: Albrecht Mentz (15th Century) after
John Guttemberg, from Mechanick Exercises: or The Doctrine of Handy-Works applied to the Art of Printing, pub. 1683 (engraving)

Type being set at the White Rose Press, Mexborough, South Yorkshire, 1968. Artist
Type being set at the White Rose Press, Mexborough, South Yorkshire, 1968. Movable type being set on a monotype caster

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Typesetting, a meticulous craft that once required skilled hands and an eye for detail, played a crucial role in the production of newspapers like the Morning Post in London. In the 1800s, typesetters diligently worked to arrange individual metal letters into lines and columns, meticulously crafting each page by hand. As technology advanced, advertisements for innovative machines such as the linotype composing machine from the Linotype Company Limited emerged. These machines revolutionized typesetting with their ability to quickly produce large amounts of text. John Swain & Son and Averys Services Limited also advertised their expertise in this evolving field. Amidst clouds of cigarette smoke, Knighton & Cutts captured a moment of concentration as a typesetter focused on his work. The portrait of a young lady reminds us that behind every printed word lies countless hours spent perfecting typography. W. G. Briggs & Co. Ltd showcased their commitment to quality through an advertisement highlighting their services in typesetting. Meanwhile, modern linotype machines at Northcliffe House swiftly set type for The Daily Mail under Ludlow casters' watchful eyes. The artistry extended beyond mere words; French Renaissance typographic ornaments added elegance and flair to printed materials during this era. Typesetting may have evolved over time with advancements in technology, but its essence remains unchanged - attention to detail and dedication to producing visually appealing content that captivates readers' attention.