Faces And Characters Of Distinction
A visual history of fonts and graphic styles, Volume 1: 1628–1900
This exuberant selection of typographic fonts and styles traces the modern evolution of the printed letter, reproducing pages from exquisitely designed catalogs showing type specimens in roman, italic, bold, semi-bold, narrow, and broad fonts. Also included are borders, ornaments, initial letters and decorations, and many spectacular examples of their use. Victorian fonts, spectacular in their complexity, are accorded a prominent place. In addition, examples from lithography and letters by inscription carvers and calligraphers are also included and described.
Featuring works by type designers William Caslon, Fritz Helmuth Ehmcke, Peter Behrens, Rudolf Koch, Eric Gill, Jan van Krimpen, Paul Renner, Jan Tschichold, A. M. Cassandre, Aldo Novarese, and Adrian Frutiger.
To accommodate the vast amount of material, we have divided the subject into two volumes. This, the first volume, covers pre–20th Century typeface specimens, with texts by editor Cees de Jong and collector Jan Tholenaar.
Includes exclusive access with TASCHEN keycard to online image library: over 1000 high-resolution scans of type specimens downloadable for unrestricted use:
Featuring works by type designers William Caslon, Fritz Helmuth Ehmcke, Peter Behrens, Rudolf Koch, Eric Gill, Jan van Krimpen, Paul Renner, Jan Tschichold, A. M. Cassandre, Aldo Novarese, and Adrian Frutiger.
To accommodate the vast amount of material, we have divided the subject into two volumes. This, the first volume, covers pre–20th Century typeface specimens, with texts by editor Cees de Jong and collector Jan Tholenaar.
Includes exclusive access with TASCHEN keycard to online image library: over 1000 high-resolution scans of type specimens downloadable for unrestricted use:
The editors and authors:
Cees W. de Jong is a designer and publisher based in Naarden, the Netherlands. He has published numerous books on design, architecture, art and graphic design, and is now working as a design/publishing consultant and author.
Alston W. Purvis is professor of the visual arts division of the School of Arts at Boston University, USA. He is also the author on many books on graphic design.
Jan Tholenaar was a collector of the printed letter in all its various incarnations; especially in the form of design catalogs and specimen books. He lived in Amsterdam, where he passed away in 2009.
Cees W. de Jong is a designer and publisher based in Naarden, the Netherlands. He has published numerous books on design, architecture, art and graphic design, and is now working as a design/publishing consultant and author.
Alston W. Purvis is professor of the visual arts division of the School of Arts at Boston University, USA. He is also the author on many books on graphic design.
Jan Tholenaar was a collector of the printed letter in all its various incarnations; especially in the form of design catalogs and specimen books. He lived in Amsterdam, where he passed away in 2009.
  Exclusive content: Unlimited access to online image library: over 1000 high-resolution scans of type specimens downloadable. Download sample! |
Type. A Visual History of Typefaces & Graphic Styles. 1628–1900
Cees W. de Jong, Alston W. Purvis, Jan Tholenaar
Hardcover with image database, 9.8 x 12.5 in., 360 pages, $ 59.99 Online currently not available |
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Letter Fountain Hardcover, 6.6 x 9.4 in., 640 pages, $ 69.99 The anatomy of letters. Everything you could ever want to know about printing letters and numbers |
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FUSE 1–20 Flexicover with posters in box, online font library, 6.7 x 8.6 in., 416 pages, $ 59.99 A complete retrospective of the influential, experimental typeface publication FUSE |