Typesetters

The Typesetters

This recent image of typesetters, from Shorpy, reminded me of a photo that I took at the National Print Museum in Dublin awhile back. It was of a boy’s indenture agreement to serve as an apprentice compositor in a Letterpress shop. Highlights of seven years service include: no fornicating, gambling or frequenting of ale-houses. I’ve transcribed the document and made the text available.

The Practice of Typography

The Practice of Typography: Modern Methods of Book Composition by Theodore Low de Vinne is available in its entirety online. Originally published in 1904, the book is a treatise on typesetting and the arrangement of pages in books.

November 28, 2008 ·

The lost art of type spec’ing

The lost art of type spec’ing. It can get even crazier when you look at the older designers like Tschichold, who could hand-draw type that looked like it was set by machine.

October 1, 2008 ·

Eightface is a weblog by Dave Kellam, a designer, developer and educator, currently residing in England. The site serves as his perennial soapbox and clearinghouse for random information.

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