Hi all,
A birthday is coming up for a close friend. He is very into fonts and I would like to explore the possibility of getting a font book of some sort. I’m thinking more coffee-table like (history of fonts) rather than a book about how to use fonts and such.
Are there any such books? A book on Futura would be especially great.
Thanks.
-Will
Christopher Burke wrote a book about Paul Renner.
http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/1568981589/qid=1138892087/sr=2-1/ref=pd...
Pieter
I find Burke’s book on Renner very good. There’s quite a bit on Futura, naturally. But I wouldn’t call it “coffe-tableish”.
For a very coofee-tableish book on typography, maybe you want to take a look at Typography, by Friedrich Friedl, a big enclyclopedia. The information is sometimes incomplete or short, but it has a lot of images...
What I think is also a very nice book is Dutch Type from Jan Middendorp about the Dutch type scene. It’s a little expensive though...
http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/9064504601/qid=1138897330/sr=1-1/ref=sr...
I second the suggestion of “Dutch Type” by Jan Middendorp. It’s really quite packed with images, biographical info, specimens, and history. Beautifully designed. It is not a typical fluffy coffee-table book, it’s much better.
Something antique might be a good idea.
Perhaps an issue of “The Colophon - a Book Collector’s Quarterly” from the 1930s.
The whole set, on sale at Oak Knoll for $1500.
They were beautifully printed (and hardcover bound), and each issue used a variety of classic letterpress fonts, on a variety of interesting stocks. fabulous design and illustration. And the articles are fascinating, still.
Anatomy of a Typeface is a must have for any type lovers collection. I shall third Jan’s Dutch Type, another essential.
There is also FontBook, the current edition is nearly 8 years old, but if you can wait a couple of months, this massive comprehensive guide to digital typefaces is going back to print and should be available soon.
Fonts & Logos by Doyald Young is a coffee table book. It is gorgeous and full of fascinating work if you are a font lover. $75 and worth it.
Revival of the Fittest: Digital Versions of Classic Typefaces is a fun coffee table-ready book. I have a copy that I’ve skimmed and am still waiting to read. The layout is quite varied and visually lush.
Thank you all for your wonderful suggestions. Does anyone know of a book about Ernst Friz or Friz Quadrata?
-Will
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