The Rob Roy Kelly American Wood Type Collection: A History and Catalog

In this book, Shields rigorously updates and expands upon the historical information about the Rob Roy Kelly collection, clarifying the collection’s exact composition and providing a better understanding of the stylistic development of wood type forms during the nineteenth century.

Using rich materials from the period, Shields deliver a stunning visual context complementing the textual history of each typeface. He also highlights the non-typographic material in the collection — such as borders, rules, ornaments, and image cuts — that have not been previously examined. Featuring over 300 color illustrations, this written history and catalog is bound to spark renewed interest in the collection and its broader typographic period.