Type: A Visual History of Typefaces and Graphic Styles; Volume I, 1628-1900

[Cologne, Germany]: Taschen, 2009. Hardcover. Fine. Folio size, 360 pp. From the web site of Taschen: "A connoisseur's overview of typeface design, 'Type' offers a dependable history of elegant fonts from 1628 through 1900. Derived from a distinguished Dutch collection, exquisitely designed catalogues trace the evolution of the printed letter through specimens in roman, italic, bold, semi-bold, narrow, and broad fonts, as well as borders, ornaments, and initial letters."

From our research it appears as though Taschen subsequently published a second volume covering the period of 1901 to 1938, and at some point issued a single volume including the entire date range.

___DESCRIPTION: Bound in full textured white cloth over boards, decorations in red, black and gilt stamped onto both boards and spine, black and gilt lettering on front and spine, red endpapers, in a pocket mounted onto the rear pastedown is a small "Key Card" which gives the owner access to a digital copy with "over 1000 high-resolution scans", the text (approximately the first 70 pages of the book) is presented in English, then in German, followed by French; the rest of the book is devoted to reproductions, in colour, of numerous typefaces, title pages, ornaments, borders, etc. - a lavishly illustrated volume; folio size (12 5/8" by 10"), pagination: [1-4] 5-360.

___CONDITION: Fine, with clean boards, straight corners without rubbing, a strong, square text block with solid hinges, the interior is clean and bright, and entirely free of prior owner markings; we removed it from the shrink-wrap in order to catalogue and photograph, the volume is clean, crisp, and as new.

___POSTAGE: Please note that this is an exceedingly heavy book and additional postage may apply; please inquire for details.

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