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book (design) story #418

rudolf hostettler:
the printer's terms

sgm books, st. gallen, 1952
printer: zollikofer & co, st. gallen
size: 15 x 10 cm
designer: rudolf hostettler

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i wish i had found this tiny book before since it would have been very useful for this project! it contains explanations of virtually all printer's terms of the pre-digital "lead age of typography" in english, german and french, partly with translations into italian and dutch.

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rudolf hostettler (1919-1981), typographic designer and editor of the magazines "schweizerische graphische mitteilungen" and "typographische monatsblätter, first published "the printer's terms" in 1949. this is the 2nd edition from 1952.

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the neat, asymmetric typography can be considered typically swiss – however the gill sans typeface is not: akzidenz-grotesk ruled in switzerland at the time!

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the book is extremely well organised, ...

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... with detailed instructions for use, ...

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... examples of typeface families and their names in different languages, ...

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... many useful photos and diagrams such as layouts of letter cases in different countries, and even a laid-in typographic ruler for the various point systems, ...

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... and finally very clever cross-reference lists. highly recommended!

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