Large Collection of Eastern Corporation Type Specimen Sheets

Eastern Corporation

Published by Eastern Corporation n.d., Bangor, ME

About this Item

4to. loose leaves. 25 folio leaves, 24 quarto explanatory cards, one issue of 'Let's Talk Type' (1989, New series, No. 1). A collection of 24 type specimens produced by the Eastern Corporation of Bangor, Maine. Includes the preliminary broadside titled Eastern Corporation Presents a series of Letterhead Portfolios of Unusual Interest. Each large folio broadside is accompanied by their respected companion card containing historical background and biographical information about the designers. Very minor toning to the edges of some of the specimens. A few specimens have tears, albeit minor. A near fine set of this scarce production. Also included is the 1989 New series, No. 1 Let's Talk Type periodical, produced by Mac McGrew. In it, McGrew gives more information on this project by Eastern Corporation. "In March 1947, Eastern Corporation, manufacture of Atlantic Bond and other printing papers, began publication of a series of typographic broadsides which have become collectors' items. Each month a new broadside featured a different typeface or family of faces, and each was created by a different, well known designer. The broadsides were 17x22 inches, printed on one side and folded twice. Each was accompanied by an 8 1/2x11-inch card identifying the designer and telling something about him and the featured typeface, and serving as a stiffener. A few of the broadsides were lithographed, but most were printed letterpress, usually in two colors. They were not numbered or dated; our numbers are only to indicate sequence. The dates in our list are of The Inland Printer containing a related ad announcing the broadside. The magazines normally were delivered early in the month of date, and presumably the broadsides were mailed out about the same time. The printshop in which I was working at the time had the order to print the first of these sheets. As assistant production manager, I handled some of the routine details, but had no part in the actual production. As I recall, locked-up forms were received from the typesetter; these may have been relocked to go on our flat bed presses. A number of press proofs were pulled in advance on another brand of paper, while awaiting Eastern's shipment of Atlantic Bond. Of course I appreciated this as an interesting job at the time, but didn't anticipate the variety of sheets to follow, or their lasting value. Some time later a few of the sheets were reprinted. A new sheet on Times Roman was planned (and perhaps other faces), but I have found no evidence of its production. At this time I offered a layout, titled The Family of Basic American Gothics. Eastern was interested, but before arrangements could be completed a new advertising manager took over and the project was dropped. (I later reworked my layout for another Pittsburgh typographer.)". Seller Inventory # 131390

Bibliographic Details

Title: Large Collection of Eastern Corporation Type...

Publisher: Eastern Corporation n.d., Bangor, ME

Binding: loose leaves

Illustrator: Type Specimens