A Tally of Types with Additions by Several Hands

This landmark book, first published in 1953 in a private keepsake edition, was later revised and expanded. This is that revised and expanded edition. Even after all these years it remains an indispensable reference for students of book design. It presents Stanley Morison at his best: opinionated, eclectic, offering his characteristic blend of erudition and insight. Morison discusses twenty different faces, many of them cut under his direct supervision, and most of them now translated into digital settings. This is the real story behind the letters: who first cut them, how they were used (and should be used), and how the modern versions became accessible. Each essay is set in the typeface it discusses, making the book an exciting visual adventure as well as a teaching tool of primary importance. We remember reading our copy of this in our youth. We loved it and we’ll never part with it even if we haven’t actually looked at it in ages.