As mentioned in the entry text, this work is very difficult to find in fine condition. It took me about twenty years to find this fine copy in the original blue cloth.
Creative Commons LicenseJeremy Norman Collection of Images - Creative Commons
As mentioned in the entry text, this work is very difficult to find in fine condition. It took me about twenty years to find this fine copy in the original blue cloth.
This inscription was printed on the verso of the title page of the volume: "This Book is Printed Without Type, being the First Product in Book Form of the Mergenthaler Machine which wholly Su
Creative Commons LicenseJeremy Norman Collection of Images - Creative Commons

This inscription was printed on the copyright page: "This Book is Printed Without Type, being the First Product in Book Form of the Mergenthaler Machine which wholly Supersedes the Use of Movable Type."  By "without type" the publishers meant that the book was typeset in Linotype slugs rather than individual pieces of lead type set by hand.

Very large poster 30 inches high advertising The Tribune Book of Open-Air Sports as a premium.
Creative Commons LicenseJeremy Norman Collection of Images - Creative Commons

Very large poster 30 inches high advertising The Tribune Book of Open-Air Sports as a premium.

Detail map of Manhattan, New York, New York, United States Overview map of Manhattan, New York, New York, United States

A: Manhattan, New York, New York, United States

The NY Tribune Issues "The Tribune Book of Open-Air Sports", the First Book Typeset by the "Mergenthaler Machine," later called Linotype

1887
Tribune Book of Open Air Sports original red cloth binding
Creative Commons LicenseJeremy Norman Collection of Images - Creative Commons

In 1887 The New York Tribune newspaper published the first book typeset by Linotype, The Tribune Book of Open-Air Sports. The New York Tribune was the first newspaper to use the Linotype, introducing mechanized typesetting for the first time in its issue of July 3, 1886.

Printed on the front and back pastedown endpapers the well-produced and attractively bound book was a statement that the book could be obtained only with a one-year paid subscription to The New York Tribune Weekly, Semi-Weekly, or Daily. Only the title page of this 500 page book was printed from hand-set type.

On the verso of the title page was printed two lines set in small nonpareil capitals and small caps:

"This Book is Printed Without Type, being the First Product in Book Form of the Mergenthaler Machine which wholly Supercedes the Use of Movable Type."

At this time the Mergenthaler typesetting machine was not yet known as the Linotype.

In January 2015 I obtained a fine copy of this book for my collection bound in the original red cloth from Peter Daly in Hampshire, England. I had been searching for a fine copy for several years; most copies are heavily worn. To my surprise when I studied pencil notes on the rear endpaper of the copy I noticed that a previous owner had indicated in a small neat hand that they bought the book from me in San Francisco on August 14, 1972. It was fortunate that the buyer, of whose name I have no recollection, kept it with great care. This fine copy remains the only fine copy in the original red cloth that I have seen on the market.

From experience I knew that some copies of The Tribune Book of Open Air Sports were bound in blue cloth. But like the copies in red cloth, nearly all copies are heavily worn or ex-library. Finally, in 2021 I purchased the fine copy illustrated here from James Cummins Booksellers.

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