Early 19th century French typefounder's poster

Rare example of an early 19th century French typefounder's poster.

Until the late 18th century, type foundries offered for the most part small sizes of type for books and newspapers. In the early 19th century their catalogues were extended to include new styles. Large in size, these were not intended for books, but for posters and other jobbing printing, attracting the eye by their thickness. In France, these so-called “fat faces” were called Normandes (normal versions), Bretonnes (narrow) and Alsaciennes (wide), but nobody knows why 

(Collection of the Musée de l'imprimerie et de la communcation graphique, Lyon, France. Inv 2077.)