Treasure, indeed. With the help of type designer Paul Barnes, we gained access to hidden gems in the basement of St. Bride Library. Here are sharp photographs of some of the most important punches and matrices at the time of the Industrial Revolution. They were saved from extinction by long-time Librarian, James Mosely. Take a look at the business-end of the first slabs and sans serif typefaces. 

Vincent Winter, a typographer and photographer in Paris, went to St. Bride Library in London and was bowled over. He shows in text and pictures what its collection is like—an amazing mass of type, books on type, publications and printing materials. Its sweet spot is the British foundries that rapidly changed the design of type in the 19th century. There is not enough room to display all of it, but if you’re nice to the very knowledgeable librarians, you can get a peek.