Normande Type Specimen, Probe 270, H. Berthold, 1931. [Herbert Bayer, Studio Dorland]

Normande and Normande-Italique, Type Specimen, Probe 270, H. Berthold S.A., Berlin (Leipzig, Stuttgart, Wien, Budapest and Riga), 1931. 8.25 x 11.75, grey nylon thread binding with 12 pages and thick, folded red and blue printed glassine wrappers. Druck: Hausdruckerei der H. Berthold AG, Berlin SW 61. Design: Herbert Bayer, Studio Dorland, Berlin.

Rare. With French, German and Swedish language examples in 5 to 84 point; upper and lowercase letters. Richly illustrated with colored typographic samples featuring: letterhead, business card, editorial, and display and illustrated advertising. The last page shows character sets and sample text (also in upper and lowercase with various weights) for Bethold’s latest releases: City, Berthold-Grotesque, Berthold-Grotesque Italique, and Radio. A small foundry card is laid-in; praising the specimen for “good sales and success abroad.”

“Two [advertising] brochures showcasing Berthold typefaces [Normande and Signal] ... are among Bayer’s best typographic works. Brilliantly produced in four-color printing with special inserts, folded transparent covers, and a generous layout overall; carried Bayer’s name out into the world of printing.” (Rössler, p. 90)

A near fine specimen and very good or better glassine wrapper with a 2” split to the top and a 4” split to the bottom of the glassine only. Interior pages are bright and fresh. A version of this rare work is included in the collection at the Museum of Modern Art, New York (Object No. 545.1999).