A punch of Breitkopf-Fraktur?

Dear all friends of letterpress printing.

In my type collection I have a steel punch for a Fraktur B (please look at the four photos). The size of the typeface is approximately 28 point, and the length of the punch is 57mm. It seams to be cut by the hand.
I have tried to identify the typeface and must admit, that it is not as easy as I first assumed.
In the book: Entwürfe zur Bibel from 1964, page 53 and 65, I have found a B (please look at “Die Bibel” photo) The B seams identically to my B and the description says that the typeface should be Breitkopf-Fraktur. Unfortunately I have no type specimen to confirm this.
Now my question: Is my punch an original punch cut by Johann Gottlob Immanuel Breitkopf in 1750 - or?

I will be very interesting in all comments to my question and in a scan of a type specimen showing my B in 28 point.

Best regards

Jens

bogtryk(a)hansen.mail.dk

image: Kopi af HPIM1360.JPG

Kopi af HPIM1360.JPG

image: Kopi af HPIM1363.JPG

Kopi af HPIM1363.JPG

image: Kopi af HPIM1366.JPG

Kopi af HPIM1366.JPG

image: Kopi af HPIM1370.JPG

Kopi af HPIM1370.JPG

image: Kopi af HPIM1376.JPG

Kopi af HPIM1376.JPG

Log in to reply   3 replies so far

Do you have other punches for comparison? The length and shape are similar to a marking punch. Outside of the printing trade elaborate punches have been used by silversmiths, die sinkers, and leather workers. Of those three, 28 point/10.5 mm is a bit large for marking silver or creating a coinage die.

Aside from learning the typeface, I look forward to hearing from anyone who has typefounders’ punches. Size, shape, materials etc.

-Ralph

I got the punch, together with at mat of Steile Futura, for several years ago. It was a gift from a man, who had been employed at the Bauersche Giesserei, Frankfurt am Main. I therefore assume that the punch has been used for making mats for type casting.

Regards Jens

Jens:

It looks like a quite similar typeface, but if you look at the stroke defining the separation of the upper and lower “bowls” of the B, the printed specimen has two distinct strokes whereas the punch has a unified stroke. I’m certain there were innumerable Fractur faces being produced in Frankfurt over the years, and a good search from old specimens would net you a match eventually.

It would be difficult to date the punch other than finding the face itself and its first appearance on the scene.