Claude Garamond

In the 1920s, typefaces by the sixteenth-century Parisian engraver Claude Garamond (t) were ‘rediscovered’, and the release of several types baring his name were made available for printers during the twentieth century and beyond. Though often based on the types cut of Jean Jannon of Sedan, they were, nonetheless, of Garamond inspiration. A century on, this new book brings together writings from three sources reflecting on the ‘Father of Typefounders’ : Edward F.  O’Day’s 1927 essay Claude Garamond and his place in the Renaissance ; with context added from the note about Garamond from the Le Bé Memorandum written by Guillaume II Le Bé in ‘about’ 1624 with Harry Carter’s English translation — by chance, this document was rediscovered by Stanley Morison 70 years ago in 1952 ; and, 100 years have passed 
since Morison penned his Note on the Garamond Type for the 1923 Penrose Annual vol. XXV. A further note by Morison from A Tally of Types corrects his earlier attribution.

The book is hand-set in Stempel Sabon-Antiqua 12, 14, 16, 20 and 24 Didot sizes with 28, 36 and 48 Didot display. Sabon, one the final typefaces made for hand composition by D. Stempel, ends this remarkable rediscovery than spans the years 1917/8 – 1967/8. Plates will show types cut by Le Bé I & II, and Jannon from Jan Tschichold’s Meisterbuch der schrift. Texts are printed in red, blue and black on Arches Vélin Blanc and Zerkall Ingres, the plates on Zerkall smooth. A new linocut portrait of Claude Garamond, printed on Bacham Green, is tipped on as a frontispiece. Printed blue paper sides over boards with a Burgundy red cloth spine

105 copies printed with a text block = 325 × 240 mm

£160.00 plus post and packing

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