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Type: A Visual History of Typefaces and Graphic Styles

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A visual history of fonts and graphic styles: volume 2

This book offers a connoisseur's overview of typeface design, exploring the most elegant fonts from the history of publishing. Taken from a distinguished Dutch collection, this exuberant two-volume edition traces the evolution of the printed letter via exquisitely designed catalogs, showing type specimens in roman, italic, bold, semi-bold, narrow, and broad fonts. Borders, ornaments, initial letters and decorations are also included, along with lithographic examples, letters by signwriters, inscription carvers, and calligraphers.
Featuring works by type designers including: William Caslon, Fritz Helmuth Ehmcke, Peter Behrens, Rudolf Koch, Eric Gill, Jan van Krimpen, Paul Renner, Jan Tschichold, A. M. Cassandre, Aldo Novarese, and Adrian Frutiger.
In order to accommodate a vast amount of material, we have divided this text into two volumes. This, the second volume, covers the period from 1900 to the mid-20th century, and contains a historical outline by Alston W. Purvis.
Includes exclusive access with TASCHEN keycard to online image library: over 1400 high-resolution scans of type specimens downloadable for unrestricted use:

360 pages, Hardcover

Published March 30, 2010

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About the author

Cees W. de Jong

21 books10 followers
Cees W. de Jong is a designer and publisher based in Naarden, the Netherlands. He has published numerous books on design, architecture, art and graphic design, and is now working as a design/publishing consultant and author.

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Displaying 1 - 5 of 5 reviews
Profile Image for Jack Bowman.
115 reviews
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October 28, 2025
Beautiful book carefully put together that celebrates Jan Tholenaar’s ridiculous collection. A lovely object.
Profile Image for Colin Mumbach.
11 reviews2 followers
March 23, 2015
This and its companion have turned into some of my most frequently used quick reference books. Tons of great examples of design and type work, along with informative descriptions of everything. Would recommend to anyone.
Profile Image for Oliver.
32 reviews
August 17, 2011
Part two ... and just as good as the first one. Very much a coffee-table book, but a very interesting and pretty one (and ok, very geeky).
Displaying 1 - 5 of 5 reviews

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