Printing Types: An Introduction by Alexander S. Lawson, 1971. Beacon Press, Boston. 1st edition, 6 x 8.25, pp. 120. Design by Larry Webster, set in Herman Zapf‘s Palatino.
A concise sourcebook focusing on the recognition and identification of the meaning of type. Lawson was a professor at the Rochester Institute of Technology‘s School of Printing. This book was his response to the course he taught on the development of printing type. Illustrated throughout with black and white photographs, diagrams, type and specimen examples.
With three chapters: A Printer‘s Type: Historical Development, Mechanization of Typesetting, Phototypesetting, Computerized Typesetting, Photolettering Devices, Protection of Type Designs, Single Types–Foundry and Monotype, Display Sizes of Type, Small Capitals, Numerals, and Font. Nomenclature: Nomenclature of a Printer‘s Type and Nomenclature of Typography. Type Classification: The Need for a Systematic Approach, The Vox System, The ATypI System, The British Standards System, The DIN System, The Requirements of a Rational System, An Attempt to Formulate a Rational System (Blackletter, Oldstyle, etc.), and Sources of Printing Types.
A near fine hardcover with neatly applied yellow highlighting to approx. 10 pages. In its’ uncommon, very good dust jacket with a sunned spine and small tears, chips and wear along the edges.