#claude garamond

Staff Pick of the Week

I’m a book and printing history nerd from way back, and while the breaking of historic books to display samples disturbs me, I couldn’t help geeking out about this recently-cataloged book from the Jerry Buff donation, The Estiennes, printed in San Francisco for The Book Club of California in 1949 by the Grabhorn Press in an edition of 390 copies. The edition, which includes an introductory note by Robert Grabhorn and an historic bibliographical essay by the noted English author and Rector of Lincoln College, Oxford, Mark Pattison (1813-1884), is “illustrated with original leaves from books printed by the three greatest members of that distinguished family.” The examples included here, printed by Henri Estienne in 1510, Robert Estienne in 1544, and Henri II Estienne in 1592, are all outstanding examples of the consistent print quality and typographic presentation achieved by this most important French printing family over nearly a century. Each sample sheet is preceded by a typographic page designed by the Grabhorns that includes the printer’s marks used by each member of the Estienne family, most notably the famous olive tree with falling branches and the Latin motto Noli Altum Sapere (Do Not Become Proud).

I note that in this publication the Grabhorns use a stylized anchor and dolphin for their own printer’s mark, fashioned after the one first used by the legendary Venetian printer/publisher Aldus Manutius (1452-1515), which has become a traditional symbol for quality in print and design. The Grabhorns don’t mention the type they used, but it is clear that it is a version of a Roman font designed by Claude Garamond (1510-1561) whose typefaces were much-used by House Estienne. Garamond also cut Robert Estienne’s famous Greek typefaces, first used in 1544, a sample page of which is shown here. A highly appropriate typographic choice by the Grabhorns.

The Grabhorns also do not mention the paper they used, but the watermarks (also shown here) reveal that it is Canson Vidalon paper, which has its origins in the the 16th-century French paper mill founded by Antoine Vidalon, the products of which would have been well known and probably utilized by the Estiennes. Through marriages, the paper mill became owned by the Montgolfier family. In the late 18th century, the firm’s heirs Joseph and Etienne Montgolfier invented the first hot-air balloon using paper manufactured at their mill. The first flight took place at the mill in 1782. The stylized balloon in the watermarked crest is a memorialized reference to this accomplishment. 

In all, this publication is just a book and printing historian’s delight!

View another post referencing Garamond and the Estiennes.

View other posts relating to the Grabhorns.

Typographie 03

Week 5 lecture talked about the history of printing and the development of typeface throughout the years. One thing that stood out to me throughout the whole lecture was the fact that mathematics is a part of the development in typeface. It was interesting to see how each letters that were made in a typeface were considered and made thoroughly. Allowing them to have the same angle of curves and round shapes. 

In the lecture, Andy mentioned one name which was Claude Garamond. He talked about him briefly as an acquaintance of Geoffroy Tory. I decided to research Claude Garamond further and the impact he made to the typeface world. 

Claude Garamond

From what I’ve gathered, Claude Garamond is a French Publisher and cutter that originates from Paris, France. Garamond’s work was not recognise until his death due to the frequent use and copy of his work. However, his work was finally recognise by the public after his death due to his wife that sold his artwork. Since then, Garamond has been one of the most influential individual in the graphic design industry. It can be seen through the number of usage of his typeface. It was known that his typeface lasted for 200 years for the people in the graphic and printing industry to use. In addition to that, many typeface such as Garamond, Granjon and Sabon were all made inspired by the work of Claude Garamond. These three typeface are still being currently use to this day, seen in publishing books such as Harry Potter and the Hunger Games.

Another influential factor that Claude Garamond had done was being the first designer to sell his typeface to the public and other printing places for them to use. This marketing move of him helped the whole printing industry to start selling their own designed typeface to help spread the the new typefaces that were made. 

Resources:

Willets, B 2019, How Claude Garamond Changed the Type Industry, Medium, viewed 13 May 2020, <https://medium.com/@brandywilletts/how-claude-garamond-changed-the-type-industry-d287200bef2f>

Overall, I am pleased with the design and hierarchy of my finalized post card. On the front, the initials C and G are the biggest which is seen first, and then his names wrapped around them. On the back, all of the information on Claude Garamond is organized in paragraph form. The less important objects like the stamp and the address are included at the bottom, and small, so the eye travels there after seeing the speech bubble of text.

I’m proud of the way that I made the text read in first person; I think it’s a unique alternative to the traditional informational third person. 

I liked using new tools in InDesign, like the text wrap, text fill, the pen tool to create the speech bubble, and learning how to space the text away from the edges. I think that by including the tan color on both the front and the back of the postcard it creates a more unified feel instead of my original design that had the C and the G initials transparent. This also helped resolve my issue of the G getting lost in the background. I don’t think the program hindered me at all; I was able to express what I had planned in my sketches.

IMAGE SOURCE:   https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:ClaudeGaramond.jpeg

Research:

https://www.linotype.com/414/claude-garamond.html

https://www.britannica.com/biography/Claude-Garamond

http://www.pointlessart.com/education/loyalist/typeTalk/garamond/biography.html

https://upclosed.com/people/claude-garamond/

COPY:

Claude Garamond was born in Paris, France in the year 1510 (the year is actually unknown with the earliest being 1480, however, the year 1510 is favored due to Garamond’s will pointing to the fact that his mother was still alive at his death). He died in 1561.

Claude Garamond started his career as an apprentice for punch cutting and printing; he later became one of the first independent punch cutters.  Among this career, he was also a type publisher, more specifically an old style letter designer, and towards the end of his life, a publisher.

He is known for is fonts ‘Garamond’ and ‘Grecs du Roi’, the latter which was made when he was commissioned by King Francois I of France.  His font style is loosely based off of handwriting with a pen, and therefore is organic, however, is slightly more structured and upright.  Because of the clarity in the typeface ‘Garamond’, readability is high, making it effortless to read.

Towards the end of his career, in 1545, he began to publish his own books using his typefaces. His works are known for clarity among multiple aspects such as design, large page margins, the quality of his compositions, the paper itself, and his printing and bookbinding techniques.

When he died in 1561, his possessions, such as equipment, punches, and matrices, were then sold, which cause the typeface ‘Garamond’ to be widely used for up to two centuries later.  Garamond is still commonly used today.

MLA WORKS CITED:

“Font Designer – Claude Garamond.” LinoType, LinoType, www.linotype.com/414/claude-garamond.html.

The Editors of Encyclopædia Britannica. “Claude Garamond.” Encyclopædia Britannica, Encyclopædia Britannica, inc., 11 June 2017, www.britannica.com/biography/Claude-Garamond.

“The Biography of Claude Garamond.” Pointless Art, www.pointlessart.com/education/loyalist/typeTalk/garamond/biography.html.