Stephen Coles

Pre-digital type specimen books from foundries and other sources that are digitized (scanned or photographed) and viewable online. This list is a starting point for a future compilation on Typographica.org, where the books can be organized by foundry and date, along with other typographically pertinent information that is not shown in Open Library lists.

Thanks to Joan Mas, Magda, and Julián Moncada, whose lists are the main foundation for this one. Other sources include Circuitous Root, Hans Reichardt, and Opentype.info.

For lettering manuals, see this list.

These books do not focus on typefaces – they are guides for lettering artists, showcard writers, and sign painters for creating their own letters. For type specimen books, see this list.