(3) Morisawa Awards, International Typeface Design Competition Booklets [1984, 1987, 1990]

(3) Individual Booklets — The Morisawa Awards, International Typeface Design Competition, 1984, 1987 and 1990. Morisawa Co., Ltd, Osaka, Japan. Stapled, 8.25 x 11.625, each with 28–32 pages plus covers. Printed in Japan with Japanese text only in an unknown quantity; perhaps for promotional use only and never sold publicly.

From 1984–2002, Morisawa Inc. has celebrated and supported excellence in typeface design through “The Morisawa Awards International Typeface Design Competition,” (later renamed ”Type Design Competition”) held every three years across seven editions. This collection of award booklets includes documentation from the first three competitions: 1984, 1987 and 1990.

Each issue opens with an Introductory statement by Morisawa President, Yoshiaki Morisawa followed by a list of award winners, along commentary and portraits of distinguished judges including: Yusaku Kamekura, Ikko Tanaka, Cho Young-jae, Adrian Frutiger, Eiko Ishioka, Masahiko Kozuka, Mitsuo Katsui, Pieter Brattinga, Henry Steiner, Lou Dorfsman, Yu Bingnan, Kimio Morisawa and others. The volumes also feature full-page specimens of Kanji and Latin typefaces — both Display and Body examples — accompanied by designer’s name, summaries, design statements, reviews.

A near fine set of three stapled competition booklets showing only light overall handling wear. The 1990 volume has noticeable foxing to the front cover. Interiors throughout remain clean, bright, and appear unread.