Bibliography

Editors note: the following books have been suggested by readers of comp.fonts. They are listed in no particular order. I have lost the citations for some of the submissions. If you wrote a review that appears below and you aren't credited, please let norm know.

I have decided that this is the best section for pointers to other font resources (specs and other documents, for example). These appear after the traditional bibliographic entries. As usual I will happily accept entries for this section. As of 9/92, the only files listed are the TrueType font information files available from Microsoft.

Bill Ricker contributed the following general notes:

The Watson-Guptill, Godine, and Dover publishers all have many typography titles. Godine and Dover tend to be excellent; W-G tends toward 'how-to' books which are good for basics and juried Annuals of job work.

Hermann Zapf and his Design Philosophy, Society of Typographic Arts, Chicago, 1987.

On Stone --- The Art and Use of Typography on the Personal Computer, Sumner Stone, Bedford Arts, 1991.

Of the Just Shaping of Letters, Albrecht Durer, isbn 0-486-21306-4.

First published in 1525 as part of his theoretical treatise on applied geometry, ``The Art of Measurment''.

Champ Flevry, Geofroy Troy.

First published in 1529 Troy attempts, in this book, to design an ideal Roman alphabet upon geometrical and aesthetic principles.

The Alphabet & Elements of Lettering, Frederic W. Goudy, isbn 0-486-20792-7. Revised 1942 edition.

This very interesting book looks at the history of letter shapes as well font design.

The Mac is Not a Typewriter, Robin Williams, Peachpit Press.

A good, clear explanation of what typography is, and how to get it from your computer. Mac-specific, but full of excellent general advice. I think there's also a PC version. Available at most computer bookstores

Rhyme and Reason: A Typographic Novel, Erik Spiekermann, H. Berthold AG, ISBN 3-9800722-5-8.

Printing Types (2 vols), Daniel Berkely Updike, Dover Press.

Affordable edition of the most readable history of type, lots of illustrations.

Notes: Both the Dover and Harvard U. P. editions were 2 volumes. The Dover editions were paperback and the Harvard hardback. It appears that the Dover edition is out of print. Collectible HUP editions are not cheap although later HUP editions may be had. Most libraries have later HUP and Dover editions. If someone knows of a source, please pass it along.

The Art of Hand Lettering, Helm Wotzkow, Dover Press, reprint from 1952.

Looking Good In Print, Roger C. Parker, Ventana Press, ISBN: 0-940087-32-4.

Well, as a beginner's book, [it] isn't bad. I can't say that I agree with the author's tastes all the time, but he at least gives some good examples. Also there are some nice _Publish_-style makeovers. Don Hosek

Book Design: A Practical Introduction, Douglas Martin, Van Nostrand Reinhold, New York: 1989. 206pp.

Along with Jan White's book (see below), this provides a fairly complete guide to book design. Martin's book is somewhat more conservative in outlook and also reflects his UK background. Don Hosek

Digital Typography: An Introduction to Type and Composition for Computer System Design, Richard Rubinstein, Addison-Wesley, Reading, Massachusetts: 1988. 340pp.

An interesting, technological approach to typography which is worth reading although not necessarily always worth believing. A not insubstantial portion of the text is dedicated to representing type on a CRT display and Rubinstein devotes some time to expressing characteristics of typography numerically. Don Hosek

Graphic Design for the Electronic Age, Jan V. White, Watson-Guptill Publications, New York: 1988. 212pp.

A good handbook for document design. In a well-organized approach, White covers the principles for laying out most of the typographics features of a technical document. White is a bit overeager to embrace sans-serif types and in places his layout ideas seem a bit garish, but it's still a quite worthwhile book. Don Hosek

Xerox Publishing Standards: A Manual of Style and Design, Watson-Guptill Publications, New York: 1988. 400pp.

Overall, a disappointing book. It is divided into four sections of widely varying intent: ``Publishing Process,'' ``Document Organization,'' ``Writing and Style'' and ``Visual Design.'' None of them is really adequate for the task and all are highly centered on the Xerox method for publishing. As a guide to Xerox' process, it succeeds, but as a manual for general use, it falls far short. In print. Don Hosek

Methods of Book Design (3rd edition), Hugh Williamson, Yale University Press, New Haven: 1983. 408pp.

It is a bit out-of-date as regards technology, but on issues relating purely to design it is comprehensive and definitive. Well, I suppose it could be argued that printing technology influences design -- e.g. some types look fine in metal but lousy in digital imagesetting -- and therefore a book that is out-of-date in technology can't really be ``definitive'' in matters of design either. In any event, _Methods_ is more than adequate for a beginner's needs. My paper-bound copy (ISBN 0-300-03035-5) was \$13.95; cheap at twice the price! Cameron Smith

The Thames & Hudson Manual of typography, Rauri McLean, Thames & Hudson

An excellent book if you start getting more interested in type. Look for Rauri McLean's other books after this one... Liam R.E. Quin

Typography and Why it matters, Fernand Baudin.

There is no better introduction than [it]. It's not a primer on subjects such as ``what does Avant Garde look like,'' or ``This is a good font for books.'' It is a good primer on the things you need to know before the rest should be considered. He's a lovely writer, to boot.

[My copy is at work, so I may have munged the title--look up Baudin in ``Books in Print'' and improvise :-)]

Ari Davidow

Better Type, Betty Binns

It's definitely not a lightweight beginner's introduction, but I've found [it] to be indispensable. It's a large-format hardcover, but you can find it remaindered for cheap if you look around. The book goes into great detail about how factors like line spacing, line length, point size, and design of typeface (evenness of stroke weight, x-height, etc.) affect readability. When you've gotten the basics out of the way and want to learn more about the fine nuances of type color, this book is an absolute must. David Mandl

Printing Types: An Introduction..., S. Lawson, (revised) 1990

I'd also recommend Alexander S. Lawson's books especially /Printing Types: An Intro.../ (revised), 1990, which includes electronic types now. Bill Ricker

Twentieth Century Type Designers, Sebastian Carter, 1987.

Discusses adaptaters of old faces to machine caster and film/laser, as well as new works. Bill Ricker

Tally of Types, Stanley Morrison, Cambridge University Press.

A keepsake for CUP on the Monotype fonts he'd acquired for them when he was Type Advisor to both Brit.Monotype & CUP (Cambridge University Press, Cambs.UK), which discusses his hindsight on some of the great revival fonts and some of the better new fonts. Bill Ricker

Chicago Manual of Style, University of Chicago Press, 1982; ISBN 0-226-10390-0.

The chapter on Design and Typography is most directly relevant, but there are a lot of hints scattered all through the Chicago Manual on making your words more readable and your pages more attractive. Stan Brown

X Window System Administrator's Guide (O'Reilly X Window System Guides, volume 8), O'Reilly

It gives advice about setting up fonts, etc. Liam Quin

How Bodoni intended his types to look Bodoni, Giambattista. Fregi e Majuscole Incise e Fuse de ... Bodoni, Harvard University Library (repr).

Inexpensive collectible, reproduced as a keepsake by the Houghton Library at Harvard. [wdr]

The Elements of Typographic Style, Robert Bringhurst, Hartley & Marks 0-88179-033-8 pbk \$15, Z246.B74 1992 0-88179-110-5 cloth, \$25.

A typography for desktop publishers who want to absorb some style. Informed by the historical european tradition and the desktop advertising, tempered by oriental yin-yang and examples. A page-turner with repeat-read depth.

The only book I've seen that discusses page proportions that admits there are more than three ways that describes how to find one that feels good for your page. [wdr]

Hermann Zapf on the cover-blurb: ``All desktop typographers should study this book. ... I wish to see this book become the Typographers' Bible.''

Printing It, Clifford Burke, Ballantine, 0-345-02694-2.

Manual for the hobby letterpress printer. [wdr]

Twentieth Century Type Designers, Sebastian Carter, Taplinger, 1987.

Discusses the talented adaptators of old faces to machine caster and film/laser, as well as the designers of new works. Indexed? [wdr]

Design with Type, Carl Dair, University of Toronto Press, 0-8020-1426-7.

In print again (or still?); the ISBN above may be stale.

A great introduction to the issues of practicality and taste that confront the users of type. A prized possession. I only regret that the book does not include among the excerpts from his Westvaco pamphlets the Seven Don'ts of Typography. [wdr]

Typography 6: The Annual of the Type Directors Club, Susan Davis, ed., Watson-Guptill, 0-8230-5540-x.

Specimens of Type Faces in the U.S. G.P.O., John J. Deviny, director., US G.P.O.

Practice of Typography: Plain Printing Types, Theodore Low De Vinne, Century Co./DeVinne Press.

One of the earlier critical studies, in four volumes of which this is my personal favorite, and still a classic reference. If one wants to understand 18th and 19th century typography in context, this writer lived the transition from eclectic to standard sizes, and comments with taste. [wdr]

An Essay on Typography, Eric Gill, Godine, 0-87923-762-7.

The Alphabet and Elements of Lettering, Frederic W. Goudy, Dorset Press (Marboro Books), 0-88029-330-6

Lovely. A wonderful way to learn Goudy's taste.

Stanley Morison Displayed, Herbert Jones, Frederick Muller Ltd / W, 0-584-10352-2.

Lovely. A wonderful way to learn Morrison's taste.

Printing Types: An Introduction..., Alexander S. Lawson et. al., Beacon 1971,?Godine? 1990; (2nd Ed includes electronic types now)

``Good introduction to comparisons of typefaces, with a detailed history and a key family or face of each general category. Denounces rigid indexes of type faces.'' [wdr]

Anatomy of a Typeface, Alexander Lawson, Godine, 0-87923-333-8, Z250.L34 1990

Deep description of the authors' favorite exemplar and its influences and relatives in each type category. It follows, without explicating, the category system developed in the prior book. [wdr]

Types of Typefacs and how to recognize them, J. Ben Lieberman, Sterling, 1968

``This isn't very good really, but it does give lots of examples of the main categories.'' [Liam] [Old bibliographies praised this one, but I haven't seen it so I can't comment.-- wdr]

Tally of Types (& other titles), Stanley Morrison, Cambridge U. Press.

A keepsake for CUP on the Monotype fonts he'd acquired for them when he was Type Advisor to both Brit. Monotype & CUP (Cambridge University Press, Cambs.UK), which discusses his hindsight on some of the great revival fonts and some of the better new fonts. [wdr]

Rookledge's International Type Finder 2nd, Perfect, Christopher and Gordon Rookledge, Ed Moyer Bell Ltd / Rizzoli, 1-55921-052-4, Z250.P42 [1st Ed was NY: Beil 1983]

``Lg. trade pb. Indexed by stylistic & characteristic features. Shows A-Z, a-z, 0-9 in primary figures, whether lining or ranging. Particularly distinctive sorts are marked for ease of comparison. Separate tables collect the distinctive characters for assistance in identifying a sample.'' [wdr]

English Printers' Ornaments, Henry R. Plomer, Burt Franklin

Paragraphs on Printing, Bruce Rogers, [Rudge] Dover, 0-486-23817-2

Digital Typography: An Introduction to Type and Composition for Computer System Design, Richard Rubinstein, Addison-Wesley, Reading, Massachusetts: 1988. 340pp.

For people who are disappointed with how the type looks on the laser, this book explains the subleties of that medium and of the screen that others miss. This is a study of the Human Factors of computer typographic systems. [wdr]

The Case for Legibility, John Ryder, The Bodley Head, 0-370-30158-7, Z250.A4

The Solotype Catalog of 4,147 Display typefaces, Dan X. Solo, Dover, 0-486-27169-2, Z250.5.D57S654 19

``Working catalog of a specialty Graphics Arts shop. They use proprietary optical special effects techniques to get Desktop Publishing effects, and more, without the laser-printer grain. Great listing of 19th Century Decorated Types -- probably the largest collection in the world. Prices to order headlines from them are NOT cheap however. Their services are for professional or serious hobby use only. Solo's previous Dover books show some number of complete alphabets of a general peculiar style; this one shows small fragments of his entire usable collection, important as an index. (According to private correspondence, they have more faces that have not yet been restored to usable condition.) Not well indexed, but indexed.'' [wdr]

Stop Stealing Sheep & find out how type works, Erik Spiekermann & E.M. Ginger., Adobe Press, 1993

Introductory, motivational. If you wonder why there are so many type faces in the world, this is the book for you! [Liam] [The title refers to the old joke: ``A man who would letterspace lowercase would also steal sheep.'' [wdr]]

The Art & Craft of Handmade Paper, Vance Studley, Dover, 0-486-26421-1, TS1109.S83 1990

Letters of Credit, Walter Tracey, Godine Press

``I can't recommend this too highly. It's not as introductory as the Sheep Book, but conveys a feeling of love and respect for the letter forms, and covers a lot of ground very, very well.'' [Liam]

Printing Types: Their History, Forms & Use, Daniel Berkely Updike, Harvard University Press, reprint by Dover.

The standard reference. Tour-de-force history of type and type-styles. A trifle conservative in its biases, but typography is conservative for good reason: readability. Check the addenda for his final words on newer faces. [wdr]

1. I believe the Dover edition to be 3 vols Pbk; both the collectable and later Harvard U.P. editions were two vols hbk.

2. I am informed by my bookseller & Books In Print that the Dover edition is out of print. *sigh* If a source be known, let me know. Collectible HUP eds are not cheap, although later HUP eds may be had. Most libararies have later HUP or Dover eds. [wdr]

Modern Encyclopedia of Typefaces, 1960-90, Lawrence W. Wallis, Van Nostrand Reinhold, 0-442-30809-4, Z250.W238 1990

``Gives examples of most typefaces, almost all digital, designed & distributed in the last 30 years. Cross indexed by foundry and designer, and sources and looks-likes. Some historical bits. Shows full a-z,A-Z,0-9, a few points (punctuation); and 0-9 again if both lining and oldstyle supplied. Only complaint is that it omits small caps even from what few fonts have 'em and the accented characters, of which most have some but too few. List \$25.'' [wdr]

About Alphabets: Some Marginal Notes on Type Design, Hermann Zapf, MIT Press, 0-262-74003-6

Hermann Zapf & His Design Philosophy, Hermann Zapf, Society of Typographic Arts, Chicago

``Anything about, by, or vaguely connected with Hermann Zapf is probably worth reading several times :-)'' [Liam]

Manuale Typographicum, Hermann Zapf, MIT Press, 0-262-74004-4

There are two books of this title (portrait and landscape); this is the only mass-market edition of either. Both are Zapf's selections of interesting typographical quotations in his inimitable display typography. [wdr]

Microsoft Windows 3.1 Programmer's Reference, Microsoft Press.

Documents the Panose system of typeface classification. Probably contains a general discussion of TrueType under MS Windows 3.1.

Introduction to Typography, 3rd ed, Faber, London, 1962.

A very good introduction for any beginner. Also discusses things like illustrations and cover design, although not in great detail.

Simon was a purist, as the editor of the 3rd edition remarks. He did not mention phototypesetting in his original edition, but some observations on its uses and abuses have since been added. Anders Thulin

[ed: additional bibliographic information appears in the file ``Additional-bibliography'' on jasper.ora.com:/comp.fonts. I have not yet had time to integrate this bibliographic information into the FAQ]