So, after a long period of procrastination and self-doubt, I’ve finally decided to start a blog. With it, I’m hoping to accomplish a few things. I’d like to share with whomever may be interested those objects and ideas that amuse and interest me with a focus on the visual arts and books. Images of books are also intended to serve as product reviews. Too often I end up buying books online without really knowing if there’re enough plates and illustrations to satisfy my voracious eyes. Highbrow and lowbrow; neither will be excluded. In sharing with whatever audience may assemble, I hope that you’ll find some enjoyment too and perhaps, even some inspiration for a project of your own.
I’m calling my project blog “A Year in the Library”. Every two weeks or so (I hope), I’ll select a topic of interest that is represented in the books and or objects from my personal library and collections. Think of it as a guided tour of a modern wunderkammer. More often than not, I’ll emphasize images over text as I’d like your eyes to do their own thinking. Please keep in mind that this is my first foray into online publishing, and that my (initial) emphasis will be on uniqueness of content versus perfection of web design. I appreciate your forbearance. Unless otherwise noted, all images are copyright the author. All content is copyright the respective owners.
Since books, as both vessels of knowledge and as physical objects, will compose many of this blog’s entries, I thought I’d begin with typography and printed letterforms. Related topics such as graphic design, calligraphy, and paleography will be covered in subsequent entries.
In order for a “normal” book to function (exclusive of pure picture books), the viewer needs to be able to read the text. This doesn’t mean that one can’t have a little fun along the way with the design and layout of letterforms, however. Even taken out of context, letterforms are intrinsically beautiful exclusive of content.
Some antiquarian books that include typography...
Real Pen-Work Self-Instructor in Penmanship (1894).
Hardcover book. Approx. 29 x 22.5 cm., 50 pp.
A great late 19th century guide on penmanship with such useful sections as “How to hold the pen” and “how to sit at the desk” (love the definite articles). Not surprisingly, much of the book consists of exercises for penmanship including such sections as “Principles and the Capitals A, N, M, T, F, and K Thoroughly Analyzed and Explained”. The thin volume also illustrates samples of elaborate decorative penwork (you’ll have to wait for the Calligraphy post to see those) and some letterforms that are somewhere between calligraphy and decorative typography which are shown here.
Hill’s Manual of Business Forms and Guide to Correct Writing, Social, Legal, and Commercial (1877).
Hardcover book. Approx. 27.5 x 22 cm., 310 pp.
Another wonderfully self-described book with some examples of practical and decorative typography. Dedicated “to the millions who would, and may, easily and gracefully express written thought”, this encyclopedic work includes sections of penmanship and spelling, along with numerous literary exemplars such as “Letter from a Husband, Absent on Business, to his Wife” (I think Jonathan Harker used one of these). There’s even a section on “The Results of Bad Penmanship”. Under “New and Standard Alphabets, Plain and Fancy Letter” may be found the following.
A Visual History of Typefaces and Graphic Styles. Volume I, 1628-1900 (2009).
Hardcover book. Taschen. Approx. 32 x 36 cm., 360 pp.
Now this is my kind of typography book- substantial introductory text in French, German, and English (illustrated, of course), followed by hundreds of color reproductions on oversized pages. Typography and related decorative design (including typographic layouts and ornaments) are illustrated from the period covered. These Taschen books are well produced and a good value for the amount of content they offer. Here are a few pages from the first volume.
A Visual History of Typefaces and Graphic Styles. Volume II, 1901-1938 (2010).
Hardcover book. Taschen. Approx. 32 x 36 cm., 360 pp.
The second volume of the series, this book brings the survey well into the twentieth century. As with the first volume, there is a well-illustrated introduction in French, German, and English followed by examples from the period. I do hope that Taschen will release a third volume to include modern and contemporary typography; there’s so much spectacular material from those periods. Here are some pages from the second volume.
Some other examples of typography & typographic ephemera
Der Bau des menschlichen Körpers. 1895.
(Book cover board. Approx. 22 x 32.5 cm.)
A trompe l’oeil cover with nouveau fonts AND anatomical illustrations? What more could you want? This is a separated front cover from a German text on anatomy for school and home.
Modèls D’Alphabets de Lettres & D’Enseignes. 1903.
Single leaf from the portfolio of L. Labbé, Models of alphabets, letters and signs. Approx. 40 x 30 cm.
Jugendstil and Chinoiserie all on the same page? I’m in! A nice pochoir that seems perfectly befitting a typographic cabinet of curiosities.
March of the Martians (1955).
Sheet music. Approx. 23 x 30.5 cm.
Along one of my ridiculous visual journeys online I discovered that sheet music is a great source typography and layout. Here’s a nifty example of an outer space font from the height of the science fiction craze. The elongated letters are far out!
Qik-eez Dry Transfer Lettering. 1970s.
Dry transfer acetate sheets. Approx. 8 x 18 cm.
Before there was Adobe, this was what you used for DIY layouts. One... letter... at... a... time...
House industries Catalogue No. 26, c. 2001
Softcover catalogue. Approx. 21 x 27.5 cm.
An example of one of the most fun font catalogues produced by House Industries, and that’s saying something. Fonts and Planet of the Apes make for a great combination.
Alpha Shapes, 2017
Wooden toy blocks. Box is approx. 31 x 12.5 cm.
A creative spin of typography that allows for the literal building of letters using wooden blocks.
Stenciletter (2019)
Workbook and plastic stencils. Princeton Architectural Press. Approx. 14.5 x 21 cm.
A cute little kit consisting of a workbook with a few sample letterforms and project dot grid pages with four plastic stencils for creating your own font designs.
So, when I initially selected typography for my first post, I hadn’t realized just how many relevant examples I had. As I try to figure out the appropriate length for my posts (which will vary somewhat based on the amount of material I have), I decided that typography will likely merit at least one more.
I hope that you enjoyed this post and that you might consider coming back to see what’s next.
Thank you.
Comte de Gustibus
“Nothing is but what is not.”