El libro de los símbolos

by Rudolf Koch

Rudolf Koch fue una personalidad que influenció considerablemente el desenvolvimiento de las artes gráficas de la Alemania del siglo XIX, y adquirió gran fama como diseñador de tipos y calígrafo; todo elemento simbológico tuvo en él la palabra definitiva del concepto y definición propias del porqué de un trazo colocado en especial forma.

Este libro contiene más de 500 símbolos, que fueron usados desde los tiempos remotos hasta la Edad Media; fueron recogidos por Koch y por quienes trabajaron con él en la búsqueda de inscripciones, grabados y manuscritos. Entre estos signos encontraremos monogramas bizantinos, cruces, iniciales sagradas, símbolos masónicos, alquímicos, elementos botánicos y astrológicos que fueron rediseñados y explicados por Koch, ocupándose Fritz Kredel, de Offenbach-an-Mein, Alemania, de los cuños originales en madera.

El lector verificará la belleza tanto estética como simbólica de estos signos, que aportan fundamentalmente su simplicidad en la representación de las ideas, como ejemplo de la capacidad de síntesis del hombre.

Genres: Art, Nonfiction, History, Reference, Design, Occult, Art Design

203 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 1926

About the author

Type designer, typographer, calligrapher, teacher.

Rudolf Koch – born 20.11.1876 in Nuremberg, Germany, died 9.4.1934 in Offenbach, Germany
1892-96: trains as an engraver in Hanau. 1896-97: trains as an art teacher at the Kunstgewerbeschule in Nuremberg and at the Technische Hochschule in Munich.

1911-24: publishes the "Rudolfinische Drucke" with Rudolf Gerstung. 1921: founds the Offenbacher Werkgemeinschaft at the Technische Lehranstalt Offenbach. 1930: is awarded a honorary doctorate by the faculty of Evangelical theology at the University of Munich. 1934: Koch’s work is caried on by his son Paul (died 1943) who runs a workshop in Frankfurt.

Fonts: Deutsche Schrift (1906-21), Maximilian Antiqua (1913-17), Frühling (1913-17), Wilhelm-Klingspor-Schrift™ (1920-26), Koch® Antiqua (1922), Deutsche Zierschrift (1921), Neuland® (1922-23), Deutsche Anzeigenschrift (1923-34) Peter-Jessen-Schrift (1924-30), Wallau (1925-34), Kabel® (1927), Offenbach (1928), Zeppelin (1929), Marathon (1930-38), Claudius (1931-34), Prisma (1931), Holla (1932), Grotesk-Initialien (1933), Koch Kurrent (1933), Neufraktur (1933-34).

Publications include: "Die Schriftgießerei im Schattenbild", Offenbach 1918; "Das Schreiben als Kunstfertigkeit", Leipzig 1921; "Das ABC-Büchlein", Leipzig 1934; "Das Schreibbüchlein", Kassel 1939. Georg Haupt "Rudolf Koch der Schreiber", Leipzig 1936; Wilhelm H. Lange "Rudolf Koch, ein deutscher Schreibmeister", Berlin, Leipzig 1938; Oskar Beyer "Rudolf Koch. Mensch, Schriftgestalter und Erneuerer des Handwerks", Berlin 1949.

Reviews

[Juli Anna · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a really cool book--the whole thing is typeset in an imitation of old German type, the symbols are intriguing, and the history is fascinating. It is also the best book for reading on the airplane to freak out your seatmate!

[Hitesh · Rating 3 out of 5]

Nothing great about this book. All these can be found online.

[Ill D · Rating 3 out of 5]

Taking a rare break from both comics and the current Chinese Virus crisis generated consternations I dipped into this tiny tome of symbols. Seeking respite as well as illumination, this was an introduction of moderate value but nothing more. Symbols and later runes are presented with a least a sentence of explanation and rarely more than a paragraph. While mostly Masonic-centric I did appreciate the Byzantine era etchings which I was blissfully unaware of.

In either case, a good place to start for those interested in such things, but for those seeking more recondite explanations and erudite connections we must seek our light elsewhere.

[Ale Rivero · Rating 3 out of 5]

Aunque me esperaba algo más teórico, creo que el libro muestra un buen resumen de aquellos signos/símbolos creados en la antigüedad y edad media.
Me asombré viendo el significado original de algunos de ellos y reconocer los que se utilizan en la actualidad.
Es interesante ver la imaginación de las personas que los hayan creado viendo el signo y leyendo su significado.
Por último, termino esta lectura con un par de ideas para nuevos tatuajes 😅

[Danger Kallisti · Rating 3 out of 5]

Not really worth a review, as such. It was a reprint of a Victorian publication, by the same people who make those books of paper dolls and stained-glass dog pictures. It was almost more of a tract than a book, really. It compiled a lot of occult and historical symbols with concise explanations of traditional meanings. It was especially interesting for two reasons: it pointed out the use of letters as symbols in and of themselves and not just components of words, and it made us realize how many of these symbols we already use. I guess it really is as they say – the pictograph supersedes alphabets in its universal meaning to all humans.

This is a good reference book to keep on hand, especially considering the price ($1.25 originally, $3.00 in a used book store several decades later).

[Dan Sumption · Rating 5 out of 5]

A brilliant catalogue of signs and symbols, from elemental and alchemic to runes, masonic and oodles and oodels of Christian insignia. The accompanying descriptions and interpretations are opinionated and sometimes debatable, but it's a beautiful and informative collection.

[Tim · Rating 3 out of 5]

Lots of cool signs. I especially liked the astronomical, astrological, and chemical signs. The book is largely devoid of historical context or points of origin. It also seemingly has a regional bias. These factors can make the content feel uncertain. However, the signs are fun fuel for the imagination. It’s unique to see this set put together in one place.

[Devero · Rating 3 out of 5]

C'erano una volta le librerie Remainders, dove si poteva trovare a forti sconti il materiale di magazzino dei principali editori italiani e spesso anche volumi in lingua straniera. In uno di questi, il primo anno dell'università trovai questo strano e interessante volumetto, certamente non esaustivo della materia.
Mi è sempre piaciuto sfogliarlo e in qualche caso mi è stato persino utile per inquadrare meglio alcuni edifici o alcune epigrafi nei miei vagabondaggi ossolani.

[Devin · Rating 5 out of 5]

A very quick read; mostly just a book of symbols dating back to ancient history -- the Byzantine Empire, early freemasonry symbols, chemistry, runes, etc. Some brief descriptions.

The font is terrible; definitely an old-fashioned, gothic style of writing. Why on earth would you write a book using this font? Fucking hell.

Pretty cool nonetheless. It's nice to read a little about the history of symbology.

[CRISTINO · Rating 3 out of 5]

"Lo que puede decirse es que la Runa representaba allí el objeto del que recibía su nombre y, entonces, el carácter rúnico se convertía en el objeto mismo, y se podía hacer de él un buen uso o un mal uso. Eran muy pocos quienes conocían las propiedades mágicas de las Runas. Así ↑ podía traer victorias, X lo protegía a uno de una copa envenenada y el signo Wunjo inducía a la locura".

[Connor Lamphier · Rating 3 out of 5]

Picked this up because it is the source for the cover of Barthes’ Mythologies. Really awesome exploration of a lot of earlier human symbols and their origins. I found myself also noticing things or elements that a lot of these primitive or early Christian symbols had in common with Chinese language- it seems there are some universal depictions of things like the sun and moon that likely predate language. Overall really enjoyed this, super cool and fun to flip through

[Amanda King · Rating 3 out of 5]

Good info, though not as thorough as I'd hoped. The font throughout the book is a highly decorative Gothic style, so it can be difficult to read. The information that is there, though, is solid, simple, and concise. It's a decent starter reference manual for cultural symbiology.

[Lara · Rating 4 out of 5]

Releyendo Koch después de 15 años? Pues si. Es difícil calificar un libro así, me encanta la emoción que le pone a describir los signos y explicar su significado. Ésta edición de Asunto Impreso es preciosa.

[Mangus · Rating 3 out of 5]

Not the most intensive collection of symbols, but it is a good place to start. It provides a brief history of several groups of symbols. I enjoyed it.

[Suzanne Fournier · Rating 2 out of 5]

A simple book of some signs and symbols primarily Christian. The font of the book was difficult to read and the explanations were over simplified.

[Ari · Rating 5 out of 5]

la vdd que que cool, no sabia el significado de un monton de cosas
a veces era mucho texto y me iba a ver solamente los símbolos pero igual, re nice

[KC Cui · Rating 4 out of 5]

very beautiful images.

[Mae · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is more a reference book. I wished however, that more had been said about each symbol. I have been left wanted to know more about them. Particularly the symbols that appear in the Gothic cathedrals.

[Julia · Rating 3 out of 5]

It has many signs in it, some related to my practices and some not. It has the runes for me to study as well, and is a decent reference guide.

[Carly Johnson · Rating 4 out of 5]

Good compilation of symbols and their meanings.

[Freder · Rating 4 out of 5]

Visually beautiful with a lot of fascinating signs, rendered in woodcuts, no less; unfortunately the text is barely adequate when it comes to delving into the meanings.