The Printer's Terms: Technical Terms of the Printing Industry by Rudolf Hostettler [5th Revised ed., 1969]

The Printer’s Terms:Technical Terms of the Printing Industry by Rudolf Hostettler. First published in 1949 by SGM books, this is the 5th revised edition, 1969. Rudolf Hostettler, St. Gallen, Switzerland. 4 x 6 with 195 pages and a few trade ads, dark hardcover cloth with a gilt spine title in it’s original, hard-to-find kraft printed paper dust jacket. German, English, French, Italian and Dutch text. Design by Rudolf Hostettler (1919–1981). Printed in Switzerland by Zollikofer & Co., AG, St. Gallen.

This humble work details typographic and printing specifications in a well organized structure; which takes some getting used to. The dictionary consists of three parts: (Preface) detailed Instructions on how to use the book; (Pictures) in three languages; and (Dictionary) in five languages with 1,361 terms. An exhaustive Index and a short Bibliography towards the back followed by a few trade ads. Heavily annotated with black and white and halftone visual explanations relating to: typefaces, composition, reproduction, press work, paper, bookbinding, comparative measurement tables and more. A typographic ruler for the various point systems is laid-in.

By 1952, Hostettler was the chief editor of TM SGM RSI. “In retrospect, Rudolf Hostettler is largely regarded as the editor who most successfully included opinions and styles from across the spectrum.” Furthermore, “Hostettler’s editorial ideals were governed not by modernism or traditionalism but rather by the notion of quality; hence Tschichold would always be as valid as Ruder or Weingart,” said Paul Barnes. (Swiss Graphic Design Histories, Volume 3; page 69, Roland Früh)

A nearly fine dark brown hardcover with an “American Distributor: Wittenborn and Company” sticker. In a very good or better dust jacket with a few small tears and chips to the margins and spine edges/corners. A well preserved and sough-after book. The last time we carried a copy of this title was in 2016. Highly recommended!