Arts & Photography
Dover Publications
17 Aug 2016
9780486806761
$19.95
NetGalley
Created during an exciting period in the evolution of graphic design, this volume was initially published in 1911 as Kaemmerer's Practical Letter Book: Containing Several Hundred Alphabets in 140 Plates; Together with Descriptive Text, For the Use of Sign Painters, Show Card Writers, Decorators, Artists and Craftsmen. A century later, this magnificent compendium offers a useful reference for graphic artists and designers in many fields.
The 140 plates feature numerous historic and modern styles from throughout Europe, including examples based on Latin, Greek, Hebrew, and Gothic originals. Selections include English and Dutch block letters; Roman, German, and French letters; script and Gothic letters; a variety of contemporary letters; foreign alphabets; numerals; and a sampling of monograms and vignettes. The compilation's original intent as a resource for sign painters ensures the eye-catching quality of its contents, making this volume an enduring source of possibilities and inspiration.
The ‘Practical Letter Book‘ is a reprint of a in 1911 originally published book, which shows an overview of fonts and typography meant to inspire artists, painters and others. It is a delightful historical source of hand-painted typography. You can recognize fonts which are used in many Art Nouveau posters from the late 1900s.
It discusses how to draw these types; shading, spacing, why some letters need raising and why others do not. Typography has changed a lot since the coming of the computer and has almost turned into a lost art, this book should be a must-read for every younger designer who just knows how to set type with a computer. Not to learn how to draw type (would not be bad though) but more to learn the ideas behind type; why some letters need more spacing, why some letters are raised and so on. It provides a treasure on background info.
The ‘Practical Letter Book‘ is a gem towards the history of typography, a must-have for designers!
