Type

(tip.) [FromGr. typos.] (Theol.) A sign or symbol; a figure of something to come; as, the paschal lamb was a T. of Christ. To the word in this sense is opposed antitype: Christ, therefore, is the antitype. - (Nat. Hist.) T. is applied to that variety in a species, or species in a genus, or genus in a family, which presents an a emblage of points most characteristic of the species, genus, or family respectively.- (Printing.) The name given to the stamps or dies which impre the letters on the paper in printing. Printers, in early times, made the letters which they used, but in proce of time the nece ity for a division of labor created the distinct busine of type-founding. The type-metal is a compound of lead and antimony, with a large proportion of tin. The antimony gives hardne and sharpne of edge to the composition, while the tin gives toughne and tenacity, and removes the brittlene which antimony causes when used in a large proportion without tin. The proper proportions of these metals are regulated by the size of the type, a greater quantity of antimony being employed for small letters. A complete a ortment of types is called a Font, which may be regulated to any extent. Every type-founder has a scale showing the proportional quantity of each letter required for a font; and a peculiar scale is required for every language. For the English language, the following is a type-founder's scale for the small letters of a font of types of a particular size and weight: a 8,500|h 6,400| 0 8,000 | v 1,200 b 1,600 i 8,000 p 1,700 w 2,000 C 3,000 j 400 q 500 x 400 d 4,400 k 800 r 6,200 y 2,000 12,000 1 4,000 s 8,000 z 200 f 2,500 m 3,000 t 9,000 g 1,700 n 8,000 u 3,400 Beginning with the largest, the subjoined specimens show the various sizes of type commonly used on bookwork. Great Primer. English. Pica. Small Pica. Long Primer. Bourgeois. Brevier. Minion. Nonpareil. Agate. Pearl. Diamond. Brilliant. Emerald is a type now little used, and which in size is between Minion and Nonpareil. [s. 915]