I have wondered for a long while about what to call these architectonic constructions made up from letterpress type elements, and have asked quite a few people if they knew a name for it. To date, the only solid response was from
fine letterpress printer John Kristensen of the Firefly Press in Boston, who refers to them as "typotecture".
Seems like a perfect appellation to me . . .
Printed letterpress on coated stock.
From Dickinson's Boston Almanac 1842
A section heading from Gately's Universal Educator, 1883/1886
A section heading from Gately's Universal Educator, 1883/1886
Ex Libris / Bookplate