London, 1787. 8vo. (118) pp. Contemporary three-quarter green morocco over marbled paper-covered boards, worn and rubbed, spine ends worn, library label at foot of same; all edges trimmed; dampstaining to prelims; ownership signature on front free endpaper; stamp at foot of title-page; ex-library with call number in ink on front paste-down, borrowing card in mounted pocket on rear paste-down; The Valentine Museum ink stamp on front free endpaper.

A rare specimen book published by Edmund Fry (1728-87), son of English type-founder, Joseph Fry. Joseph Fry formed a partnership with his two sons, Henry and Edmund, in 1782, and released these specimen books each year, often with new and updated fonts. He created a variety of fonts and decorative borders, with this volume including numerous English fonts, as well as specimens in Hebrew, Greek, Arabic, and Persian. This is the first specimen book released after Joseph's death in 1787.