iS6% Specimens, Rand & Avery,
Cornhill, Boston

As the world changed, production
and technology were portrayed in con¬
temporary fashion.

Zeitgenössische Darstellungen zum
Wandel von Produktion und Technik.

Dans un monde en changement, la
production et la technologie étaient
représentées de manière contemporaine.

N connection with the
specimens of our art
which we here submit
to our patrons and the
public, and as a fitting
introduction to such ex-
> position, it may not be
(u inappropriate to give a
brief description of tiie establish¬
ment where they were produced,
and the means and facilities we
have at command for executing in
the most creditable and satisfac¬
tory manner every description of
work falling within the province
of our profession. We have been
І long established in Boston, and
' feeling that our efforts have been
\ more and more appreciated by the
■ public, wc can now point to their
result with an honest pride: and
may this be an earnest to the pub¬
lic that our future efforts will be
Z) no less praiseworthy and judicious.

154-

Rand & Avery

ut block of buildings used by us for a Printing Establish-
it begins ut 13 Washington Street, nnd extends to
7 ('unibili, comprising the buildings numbered 18,
16, 17. 1!'. and -21 Washington Street, and 1, 8, 5, and
7 Cornbill, reaching buck in each instance lo Brattle
Street. In the above engraving is seen tlm Washing¬
ton-Street and Cornbill Front. It is 125 feet in length
on tbc two streets, and six stories in height, and, though not an archi¬
tectural model, yet presenta an nppenranee at once solili, substantial,
and majestic No. ;ï Совмина is the main entrance, leading directly
to the Counting Room.

We also givo a view of the Brattle-Street Front. Hero may be
»■m the entrance for the reception and delivery of merchandise,
such as books, paper, ink, and other printing material. The street
in front is wide, and not pressed with travel, so that our Ingrese
and egress are not obstructed by the many difficulties that prevail in
more crowded thoroughfares. This entrance connects directly with the
Elevator, shown in the vignette, and thus with all parts of the building,
ïn the vignette we present a sectional view of the building and its
various departments, which we will enter and examine more closely.

"■'■'......./л,""-^^^ь^

)llfc, ÛU glitte Depositor»,, a view of which is given above.
It is a largo vault, of arched masonry, built under the Corn-
¡"\ hill and Washington-Street sidewalk, and is probably the
- most complete work of its kind in onr city. It ¡s 00 feet.
ijy^; ¡n length. 10 feet wide, and 1"> feet high, and is kept
I thoroughly warm and dry by steam-pipes passing up and
down its entire length. lingo shelves line the sides of the vault,

and и third tier passes »hing the centre, On these ore stored our
Stereotype nini Electrotype Plates, as well as Wood Engravings, all
of which require great cure for their proper préservation. All tbo
shelves are numltercd, anil so well is everything arranged, und such
method is there observed, that notwithstanding the fact that there are

minting Itoom.iç)

here deposited more than 200,000 different plates, yet ПО difficulty
is experienced in obtaining immediately any particular one required.
A memorandum of nil the plates and their location is kept in the
Counting Room. This Safe, most judiciously located underground,
is built of brick and stone, closed with iron doors, and believed to
bo in every respect completely fire-proof. And when the value of its
contents, and the difficulty, if not Impossibility, in many instances, of
replacing them, arc considered, the importance of having this struc¬
ture all wo have described it cannot be over-estimated. Quitting
this subterranean cavern, where part of the time wo have been at
least twenty feet below the street, we emergo hito the light of day,
and, making the tour of the building, wo pass to

The Countltli/ Jtoom, ou the second floor, by the principal en¬
trance, No. 3 Comhill. We notice that the entire ground-floor and
parts of the story above are not used by us for tbo purposes of our
business, but are variously occupied by publishing houses and book¬
stores. The second story gained, then, wo enter tbo spacious and
well-lighted Counting Room, where the proprietors and their head

centuries ago. On visiting n Printing Office for the first lime, nnd
wishing to gain a proper understanding of the most beautiful of arts,
this is the point ht start from. The first stage of the process Is bore
performed, and (be various single letters, under the guiding fingers
of skilled COmpoeitora, group themselves into words, linos, pages, vol¬
umes. From these pages hooks may he printed directly, ОТ nie-siniiln
plates cast to be used again nnd again without Ihe preliminary labor
and expense of '; setting up." Referring to the engraving, ranged
down tbo sides of tbo room wo see rows of stands containing the
multitudinous sizes and varieties of hook typo requisito to Ibis de¬
partment. In tbo open space are the Imposing Stones, on which
"matter" is imposed, proofs are taken, errors corrected, nnd the
" form " finally made ready fur tbo press, These rooms accommo¬
date some fifty compositors, and possess materials and facilities for
letter-press, electrotype, and sloreotyjm composition that wo feel as¬
sured aro unsurpassed in extent and completeness ; and we would
call the attention of Publishers nnd Authors to the specimens of the
diflerent sizes and faccH of book type used in this deportment.

Specimens, 1867-

I55