Treasury of Alphabets and Lettering

by Jan Tschichold

Treasury of Alphabets and Lettering is a classic source book of the most beautiful type and letters of all time selected by Jan Tschichold, internationally renowned typographer and master of lettering. It contains only letters of timeless and lasting beauty--the true mainsprings of the art of lettering. One hundred and seventy-six type specimens are presented, most of them in complete alphabets.

The introductory text provides a perceptive analysis of letter forms. Tschichold discusses lettering as a work of art, good and bad letters, older and recent letter forms, the use of capital and lower-case letters, word spacing, line spacing, the selection of appropriate letter styles, and the layout of groups of letters and signs.

The type specimens are handsomely reproduced, most in their original size. Every alphabet was specially arranged by Tschichold, and forms a well-balanced graphic design. Many of the outstanding historical sources appear better here than in the often poorly printed originals. The book is identical to the original edition, first published in 1966, with a new introduction by designer and writer Ben Rosen.
176 type specimans

Genres: Design, Art, Reference, Nonfiction, Art Design

236 pages, Hardcover

First published January 1, 1966

Reviews

[David · Rating 2 out of 5]

Modern typographers aren't nearly as harsh and opinionated as Tschichold.

[Mycala · Rating 3 out of 5]

As another reviewer pointed out, the writer had very real feelings about letter-forms that do not conform to their standards. Apparently numerals that are the same height (as opposed to bouncing all over the place -- the 7 below the baseline, the 0, 1, and 2 all half the size of the other numbers) are less intelligible. That's just the start.

In the chapter entitled "Good and Bad Letters" we will find examples of "swollen, tortured lower case letters" with an "insipid line" underneath and "unnatural connections" between some of them. Okay, it's not the most attractive lettering but I would hardly refer to it as part of a "horror chamber of contemporary lettering: Logotypes that failed." Among them is the Hoover logo of days past, and I wouldn't call that a failure. Or Vespa, for that matter. On the very first page we are told that "Good letters are rare. Most of the letters we see about us are ugly, inadequate, or erratic." Avert your eyes, children! God have mercy on us all. :-P

So, yeah. I understand taking pride in a craft, but let's not get obnoxious. Creativity has a part in lettering, and just like every creative endeavor, sometimes a letter-form has to evolve a bit before it looks polished. It's okay. Deep breath there, Jan. (In the foreword the writer notes that the letters selected have "stood the test of severe scrutiny." Indubitably.) Apparently because the "few good source books" are "difficult or impossible to obtain", Jan has helpfully provided us with a book of hand-selected and Jan-approved letter-forms, which are of course all perfect and beautiful and to be practiced over and over for ten or twenty years. I'm not making this up.

Also, "no one can invent letters by himself." Good heavens, no. And! "Only those who have mastered the best of the older letter forms are entitled to modify them.... It is far better to keep one's hands off and not be lead (that's really how it was spelled -- apparently spelling is not nearly so important as following the rules of lettering) astray by the false notion that lettering calls for 'self expression.' This error is largely responsible for the ugly lettering which surrounds us." I was amused to see the expression "widely preached" used in a sentence with "the essence of good lettering." Yes, I can see that being the case -- one feels as though they are being thumped over the head no fewer than half a dozen times within the very first paragraphs of this book. Preaching is an excellent word to describe what is happening here. Hellfire awaits those who attempt to make letters that don't look exactly like the ones in this book. Mind your kerning, children, or you will miss the Second Coming. My goodness, mealtimes with this person must have been charming events. After reading the commentary on regular sans-serif letters, I can only imagine the diatribe that would be launched upon the sight of Comic Sans. Why, I bet this person is rolling in their grave at the thought of it. (They can't be still alive, can they? This book was published in 1966 and it sounds like it was written by an angry octogenarian... "Hey you kids! Get off my lawn! And take your hideous bubble letters with you!")

Again in the words of the writer, this book contains plates which "contribute to a true culture of letters and their application." The writer actually believes that this book will set us all back on the straight and narrow path and prevent the laypeople from meddling in letterforms. Creatively lettering hands are the devil's workshop, don't you know.

So why the three stars? Well, because the letters in here were interesting to look at. I wouldn't call them all "beautiful" or "perfect" or "beacons for future generations", but there are some that would fit that description. Aside from the beacon bit. Let's not get carried away. Best of all, the writing itself was such a parody.

[Ward · Rating 5 out of 5]

"People who do not wish to paint or draw an ampersand should not attempt lettering."

[Paul · Rating 5 out of 5]

Excellent advice from one of the masters of typography.