out of sorts

t: +44 (0) 1271 817220e: [email protected]

1 chapel close | chapel street | braunton | devon | united Kingdom ex33 1ej

carl middleton

Thank you for the really positive response to the first listing of this digital publication. It has now been renamed, with the help of John Christopher and will be titled as ‘Out of sorts’ from now on.

The primary purpose of this project is to help relocate the lost components of incomplete alphabets and in doing so, to maintain and support our letterpress community. I know from experience how frustrating it is to embark upon a commission only to find that due to the lack of the correct letters you are unable to spell the relevant words and complete your proposed design.

I have been lucky enough to purchase a large selection of type and letterpress equipment from a retiring printer. The following pages document the type and equipment I am selling. If you have something to sell or are in search for anything in particular please get in contact and I will include it in the next newsletter.

If you are interested in any of the items listed in the following pages or wish to list your ‘for sale’ or ‘wanted’ items please feel free to contact me.

Out of Sorts [October 2013] NEATthe newly titled:

with thanks to John Christopher (www.flowersandfleurons.com)

#2

NEATt: +44 (0) 1271 817220e: [email protected]


carl middleton

Lot: 20.Price: £100.00 (plus postage and packaging).Status: For sale.

An antique, ‘hand-cut’ typeface in great condition for its age. A full usable alphabet with some quirky inconsistencies between letters due to the hand-made nature of its manufacture.

The ‘J’ has a particularly interesting foot serif - not common in the twentieth century, but prior to this it was a very traditional approach to the designand construction of this letter.

Size: 8 Line-Pica (33mm).Name: No maker’s marks.Origin: United Kingdom.



carl middleton

Size: To fit an Adana 8x5 printing press.Name: Chases.Origin: Adana (Printing Machines) Limited. Twickenham and London, England.

Lot: 21 (inking accessory not included).Price: £10.00 each (plus postage and packaging) six available.Status: For sale.

Some original Adana 8x5 chases. I have six which I am selling - ideal if you are working on multiple colour print projects. They are all in good condition, complete with a few bumps, scratches and some historic ink stains.

I also have this incomplete inking attachment - it is the only one I have ever seen, and I have found no details for it on-line. It was manufactured to fit an Adana 8X5. If you are interested in it please do get in contact.



carl middleton


Reading Old Face (registered design No. 569,919) manufactured by Delittle, York at the turn of the 19th century. There is a full set of lowercase letters, only four uppercase letters and some punctuation.

The type doesn’t look as if it has had very much usage as there are very few signs of wear. It is in great condition, although quite dusty and in need of a good clean.

Size: 18 Line-Pica (77mm).Name: Reading - Old Face.Origin: United Kingdom - Delittle, York.



carl middleton


A very interesting Day & Collins face with a range of complete words (metal pinned to wood bases) including some of the compositor’s favourites, such as: • the • Miss • is • and • Mrs • be • to • Mr • on • this • of •

With this lot comes both upper and lower case letters, punctuation and numerals.

Note - there appears to be no upper case X.

Size: 6 Line-Pica (25mm).Name: -Origin: United Kingdom - Day and Collins.

Please note: the case is not included in this lot.



carl middleton

Lot: 24.Price: £320.00 ono (plus postage and packaging).Status: For sale.

An antique, hand finished wooden display type from Day & Collins. There seems to be possibly two faces that are combined in this set - see detailed photo.

I have used this set once for a Christmas card but had an allergic reaction to the decorative nature of the typeface!

Size: 6 Line-Pica (25mm).Name: -Origin: Day & Collins - Ventris patent.




carl middleton

More of the Reading Old Face manufactured by Delittle, York. Two cases full - a set of both upper and lowercase letters, with some punctuation.

In very good condition, with very little signs of wear.

Size: 12 Line-Pica (51mm).Name: Unknown (by me).Origin: United Kingdom - Delittle, York.

Please note: the cases are not included in this lot.




carl middleton

Size: 8 Line-Pica (33mm).Name: Reading Old FaceOrigin: United Kingdom - Delittle, York.


And even more of the Reading Old Face manufactured by Delittle, York. There is a full set of lowercase and uppercase letters.

In very good condition, with very little signs of wear. There is a lot of dirt and dust which will be included free of charge in this lot.

Lot: 26.Price: £250.00 (plus postage and packaging). Status: For sale.



carl middleton

Here are some of the more palatable uses for supposedly redundant letterpress materials offered in variouse locations on-line.

I have also found bundles of riglets for sale for use as kindling but I could not bear to exhibit these (although they and woodworm riddled letters do burn well if you are struggling to start a fire).

crimes against letterpress [2013]


carl middleton

Sort it out - wanted [October 2013]

If you are interseted in advertising in this section please feel free to contact me. I will need a title, description (maximum fifty words), contact details and an image (a Jpeg file at 72dpi 90m wide).

b I am in search of the remaining letters for this wonderful slab serif typeface. The letters are peculiarly sized at both 40 and 40.5 Line-pica. The stem thickness for the letters measures 22mm at the widest point and the vertical height of the actual serifs are 12mm. If you have any letters that match please get in contact.

Carl Middleton Email: [email protected]: +44 (0) 1271 817220Country: United Kingdom



carl middleton

Size: 12 Line-Pica (51mm).Name: Unknown - this one will need a good day of research at St Bride Library (London) to find out.Origin: United Kingdom - no maker’s mark.

Lot: 27.Price: £200.00 - or nearest offer (plus p&p).Status: For sale.

A very rare antique, hand-cut wooden display face. There are no makers marks or details of the origin of this type. Letter by letter there are slight inconsistences due to the hand-made nature of their manufacture.

See right: A similar typeface is depicted in the Day & Collins type specimen catalogue (dated 1880) - the primary characteristics are the same, yet there are a small number of discernible differences.

St Bride LibraryBride LaneFleet StreetLondon EC4Y 8EE

T: +44 (0)20 7353 4660E: [email protected].



carl middleton

Size: 8 Line-Pica (34mm).Name: Unknown - Blackletter inspired.Origin: No maker’s mark

Lot: 28.Price: £150.00 or nearest offer (plus p&p).Status: For sale.

A complete alphabet in both upper and lower case letters. The letters are well manufactured but strangely for type of such quality there are no maker’s mark. The wood that the blocks are manufactured from look as if it could be Oak, but I cannot confirm this for sure.



carl middleton

Size: 8 Line-PicaName: Catalogue No 241.Origin: United Kingdom - Delittle, York.

Please note: the wooden case is not included.


A wonderful italic typeface in both upper and lower case.



carl middleton

Size: 4 Line-Pica (measured vertically).Name: Catalogue No 241.Origin: United Kingdom - Delittle, York.

Please note: the wooden case is not included.

A very fine italic typeface. Some of the spacing material and a few stray letters (marked in red) belong to the lot 29.

Lot: 30.Price: £120.00 (plus postage and packaging). Status: For sale.



carl middleton

Here is a couple of emails receaved after the last newsletter and a few sales:......................................................................................Hi Carl,I’ve been away for a few days. Picking up more type from around the country actually. They arrive to my studio on Wednesday but I only got to see them yesterday. I’m very happy with them. The look great. Anxious to start using them. I’ll keep you posted.

Cheers for the follow up. Best Dave......................................................................................Hi Carl,The package arrived and I am thrilled with the wood type.

Many thanks, Greg......................................................................................Hey Carl,Hope you’re well. Just getting in touch to say thanks again for the rules - they’re great - and also: do you have any type left?

Cheers, Simon......................................................................................

Thank you for your support.

Next newsletter - shock headline:Orphans for sale by the dozen…



carl middleton


The final lot is for an incomplete alphabet - I am hoping someone has already owns the same alphabet and they will be able to benefit from the extra letters. The type is in great condition and manufactured to the high standard you would expect from Delittle.

Including in this set is a very interesting ampersand and double ‘o’ ligature.

Size: 20 Line-Pica (85mm).Name: Catalogue No 279. Origin: United Kingdom - Delittle, York.

out of sorts

Documents

united kingdom ex33

ejcarl middletonlot

ejcarl middletonthank

ejcarl middletonsize

original adana 8x5 chases

uppercase letters

adana 8x5 printing press

correct letters