Octavo 88.6, International Journal of Typography edited by Simon Johnston, Mark Holt, Michael Burke and Hamish Muir, January 1989. Published by Eight Five Zero (8vo), London, UK. 11.75 x 8.25, pp. 16 with English text.
Designed, published and self-financed in an edition of 3,000 copies as an eight issue series between 1986 and 1992. Distinct and influential, “Octavo arose from a genuine desire to develop a forum for matters related to typographic design, both historical and contemporary. And it was an opportunity to be openly critical of the complete absence of any European sensibility in British typography.” (8vo: On the Outside, Lars Müller, 2005).
Illustrated throughout with photographs and work examples. This issue was the first to be printed using a four-color process. As with all volumes, this sixth “environment” issue features excellent, thoughtful and critical texts:
- Signs of Revolution. Martin Pawley discusses sign as architecture and architecture as sign.
- Printed Time. Barry Kitts examines the history of the timetable through its close links with the history of the railways.
- Highway Codes. Neil Parker investigates the typefaces and coding conventions used in vehicle registration plates.
A very good journal with only light wear to the stapled, paper covers and interior pages. With its’ original, good vellum printed wrapper.