Johannes Froben und der Basler Buchdruck des 16. Jahrhunderts [Emil Ruder]

Johannes Froben und der Basler Buchdruck des 16. Jahrhunderts, 1960.  Gewerbemuseum Basel, Switzerland. 5.75 x 8.25, n.p. [66] plus covers with German text. Design by Emil Ruder. Printed in Basel.

Published in conjunction with the 500th anniversary of the University of Basel from June 19 to July 24, 1960. Johannes Froben (c. 1460–1527) was the esteemed, sixteenth century Basel printer, publisher and Renaissance humanist who helped develop Basel as a leading center for the Swiss book trade. Ruder's catalog features a foreword by the museum's director, an introduction and several texts related to: 15th century Basel book printing, humanistic printing, Johann Amerbach the Basel printer, the emergence of the Antiqua style typeface, Johannes Froben and the revitalization of Basel's book trade. With an exhibition list, Froben's portrait by Hans Holbein the Younger, a 16th century book printers workspace woodcut and twelve full page black and white works printed recto only.

Ruder published this catalog cover in his seminal book on Typography (pp. 13). “There are two sides to typography. First, it does a practical job of work; and second, it is concerned with artistic form.” He also designed the exhibition and exhibition poster; nearly identical but with the exhibition details in the lower margin. Poster in situ photograph by Roy Cole.

A very good lightly handled softcover with gently soiled white covers and FROBEN written in black marker on the spine. Uncommon.