megatzem

Typography Tuesday

SAN SERIFS

Here are a few san serif typefaces, with a focus on Curwen type from The Curwen Press Miscellany, edited by Curwen Press typographer Oliver Simon (1895-1956) and published in London for the Curwen Press by the venerable Jewish publishing house Soncino Press in a limited edition of 275 copies in 1931.

San serif types made their first appearance in England in the early 19th century when William Caslon IV cast the first san serif type for the Latin alphabet. But san serif types really came of age in the 20th century, first with Edward Johnston's typeface for the London Underground (1916). Eric Gill designed Gill Sans ten years later in 1926 and Rudolf Koch created Kabel (displayed here as Cable) in 1927. Harold Curwen, a student of Johnston and Gill, designed the Curwen Sans alphabet in 1912, which was revised and cut as type in 1928 exclusively for the Curwen Press. A lowercase was added for the 24pt size and cast in 1931.

Our copy The Curwen Press Miscellany is a gift from the estate of our late friend Dennis Bayuzick (1946-2022).

View more posts of works by the Curwen Press.

View other type specimen books.

View other books from the collection of Dennis Bayuzick.

Typography Tuesday

Here are some more specimens from The Curwen Press Miscellany, edited by Curwen Press typographer Oliver Simon (1895-1956) and published in London for the Curwen Press by the venerable Jewish publishing house Soncino Press in a limited edition of 275 copies in 1931.

This time we focus on type borders and ornaments by frequent Curwen collaborating designers, including graphic artist Edward Bawden (1903-1989) and artists and wood engraver John Nash (1893-1977).

Our copy The Curwen Press Miscellany is a gift from the estate of our late friend Dennis Bayuzick (1946-2022).

View more posts of works by the Curwen Press.

View other type specimen books.

View other books from the collection of Dennis Bayuzick.

KURT SCHWITTERS — Mz 30,3 

SCHWITTERS, KURT

1887 Hanover - 1948 Ambleside

Title: Mz 246. red and striped.

Date: 1921.

Technique: Paper collage and fabric on newspaper under passe-partout (28,3 x 20cm).