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book (design) story #244

jan tschichold:
funktionel typografi

det berlingske bogtrykkeri, københavn, 1937
size: 21 x 15 cm
designer: jan tschichold

while an english translation of jan tschichold's (1902-1974) book "typographische gestaltung" (see story 30) first appeared more than 30 years later (see book 31), local-langue-versions appeared in denmark, sweden, and holland already in 1937-1938.

this is the danish edition. the impressum says: "trykning efter forfatterens anvisning" – printed according to the author's design. the typography is similar to the original german edition, ...

... however tschichold canged some of the print samples and illustrations.

above a relief by hans arp (left) and a b/w reproduction of a piet mondrian painting from tschichold's own collection – with the caption suggesting that book owners colour the yellow field at the right by hand! below a 1930 exhibition poster designed by max bill.

the ad on the blue wrappers is for the berthold typefoundry, berlin, featuring herbert bayer's "bayer-type" and georg trump's "city".