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Identification

September 1878 Model Printer's Guide Periodical

Photo reference

1 uploaded photo

Overview

The item is explicitly identified by its printed masthead as the September 1878 edition of the 'Model Printer's Guide', published by J. W. Daughaday & Co. in Philadelphia.

Story

Published by J. W. Daughaday & Co. in Philadelphia, this periodical served as both a trade journal and a promotional vehicle for their 'Model Printing Press. ' These presses were highly popular among amateur printers, hobbyists, and small-scale commercial operators during the late Victorian era. The secondary market for 19th-century printing and typography ephemera is supported by a dedicated niche of letterpress enthusiasts, historians of technology, and institutional archives.

Maker / Origin

J.W. Daughaday & Co.

Condition & Value

Based on the provided photo of the front page, the item exhibits wear typical of 19th-century paper ephemera. Notable condition factors include moderate foxing, prominent horizontal folds (indicating it was likely mailed or stored folded), and minor edge wear with a specific crease and tear at the bottom right corner.

Full Research

See what it's actually worth.

Sold comps, value drivers, and venue guidance pulled from recent auction results.

Market Analysis

The secondary market for 19th-century printing and typography ephemera is supported by a dedicated niche of letterpress enthusiasts, historians of technology, and institutional archives. While single issues of trade journals are less liquid than complete bound volumes or dedicated type specimen books, early examples related to specific, popular presses hold steady appeal. Buyers are typically found through specialist antiquarian booksellers or targeted online auctions.

Value Drivers

▲ Direct association with J. W. Daughaday & Co. and the historically significant Model Printing Press

▲ Clear 1878 publication date and masthead identification appeals to period collectors

▲ Niche cross-over appeal between typography, letterpress, and Victorian trade history

Concerns

▼ Unverified completeness — missing interior pages or covers would significantly reduce value

▼ Visible foxing, prominent folds, and edge tears limit the ceiling for condition-sensitive collectors

Best Venue

List on a broad platform like eBay or via a specialist antiquarian paper dealer, using strong keywords such as '1878 Letterpress', 'Typography', and 'Model Printing Press'. Before listing, carefully count the pages and photograph the interior to confirm completeness, as this will significantly aid in realizing the higher end of the estimate.

Upside Potential

If the interior is confirmed to be complete and contains elaborate typographic specimens, rare advertising inserts, or pristine illustrations, the value could push toward the $150+ retail mark seen for premium Daughaday ephemera.

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Also found — market-range context

Related comps outside the valuation band· 13 comps

Surfaced during research but not used to anchor the valuation — wrong form, species, era, or no published price. Shown so the market range around this item is visible.

  • Swann Auction Galleries· 2009-12-16
    VARIOUS DESIGNERS. POSTER ALBUM / THE AULT & WIBORG CO. 1902. Bound volume.
    Poster album, not a trade periodical.
    $2,400
  • Periodyssey
    Will H. Bradley. Twelve Cover Designs (Chicago: Inland Printer, 1895)
    Portfolio of cover designs, not the periodical itself.
    $1,250
  • Periodyssey
    Will H. Bradley. Twelve Cover Designs (Chicago: Inland Printer, 1895). Portfolio.
    Portfolio of cover designs, not a periodical.
    $1,250
  • KCM Galleries
    1897 Will Bradley The inland Printer Lithograph one of 25 on Japon Framed
    Framed lithograph, not a periodical.
    $700
  • Dealer
    1890's Inland Printer Native American Literary Poster by Birren
    Poster, not a periodical.
    $375
  • Etsy
    The Inland Printer, Vol. XXXI April 1903-September 1903
    Different periodical (The Inland Printer) from a later era, bound volume.
    $364
  • PosterConnection Inc.· 2020-03-24
    Signature illegible, 8 Original 1890s/1900s American Magazine + Posters
    Lot of multiple magazines and posters, not a single specific periodical.
    $344
  • PosterConnection Inc.· 2020-03-24
    8 Original 1890s/1900s American Magazine + Posters
    Lot of multiple magazines and posters.
    $100
  • eBay
    The inland printer
    Different periodical (The Inland Printer).
    $99
  • November Gallery Auction· 2018-11-03
    Group of four Vintage Magazine Covers: The Inland Printer, March, 1897 and January 1897
    Magazine covers only, not a complete periodical.
    $75
  • eBay
    1893 Inland Printer Volume XI April/Sept Bound, missing cover
    Different periodical (The Inland Printer), bound volume.
    $50
  • Sentimental Scrap
    Model Printing Press 708 Chestnut St Philadelphia 1904 Clipping SAI7-S38
    Paper clipping from 1904, not a full periodical.
    $14
  • Waterbury Auction Gallery
    PRINTING & GRAPHIC ARTS JOURNALS, 1923, Periodicals, Industry, Advertising. INLAND PRINTER
    Different periodical (Inland Printer) from a much later era (1923).
    $10