Alphabet and Image: Quarterly of Typography and Graphic Arts, 1946 [Robert Harling, Complete 1-8]

Alphabet and Image: A Quarterly Magazine of Typography and Graphic Arts, edited by Robert Harling, Complete with Issue Nos. 1-8, Spring 1946–December 1948. James Shand at the Shenval Press and Art and Technics Ltd., London, England.

A complete set of the influential post-World War II British periodical devoted to typography, book design, engraving, and the graphic arts. Alphabet and Image was conceived as the successor to Harling’s pre‑war quarterly journal Typography, of which eight numbers were published between 1937 and the outbreak of the war.

Each issue measures 7.75 × 9.75 with approximately 86–99 pages, and is richly illustrated throughout in black and white with occasional color plates. Issues feature introductory notes outlining the contents, essays on letterforms, printing history, illustration, and contemporary design practice, as well as industry news and notes, book and type reviews, trade advertising and more. Here’s a brief sampling (each issue includes 5-7 articles) of the rich content you can expect:

• The Numbering of Newspaper by Stanley Morison
• An Examination of Egyptians by Ruari McLean
• News Bills: A Retrospective by S. L. Righyni
• The Gothic Title-Piece and the English Newspaper by Allen Hutt
• 19th Century Typefounders and Mechanical Inventions by A. F. Johnson
• Early Alphabets of Eric Gill by Robert Harling (with fold-out pages)
• The Posters of the Beggarstaff Brothers by James Thorpe
• Fat Faces: Their History, Forms and Use by A. F. Johnson
• The Phonotypes of Robert Bridges by Simon Nowell-Smith
• Artistic Printing: A Search for Principles by Vivian Ridler
• The Type Designs of Eric Gill by Robert Harling
• The Engraved Letter-Forms of Reynold Stone by Percy Muir
• Some English Decorated Initials by A. F. Johnson
• 17th Century Booksellers & Stationers Trade-Cards by Ambrose Heal
• Heinrich Jost: An Obituary by Konrad Bauer

Good to very good issues. With original paper wrappers, although damaged and torn and with a few inserted in the magazine. A few of the covers have separated from the dried glue binding and show light wear and handling. The plastic comb spiral bindings have been cracked with a few pieces missing; some pages do not turn smoothly. Interiors are complete and clean. Despite any flaws, still an excellent series. Condition noted and price adjusted.