Albertus: The Biography of a Typeface (The ABC of Fonts Series)

Download or read book Albertus: The Biography of a Typeface (The ABC of Fonts Series) written by Simon Garfield and published by W. W. Norton & Company. This book was released on 2024-10-22 with total page 89 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: A compact and charming history of the beloved handcrafted font by the New York Times best-selling author of Just My Type. Albertus, first carved on a bronze tablet in the 1930s by German Jewish refugee Berthold Wolpe, has proved to be one of the most enduring handcrafted typefaces in the world. It is at once modern and timeless, authoritative and whimsical—renowned as the typeface of London Street signs, David Bowie albums, and Star Wars movie posters. In this unique celebration, best-selling author Simon Garfield charts the story of the creation of Albertus, its innumerable and vibrant uses, and the erratic brilliance of its designer, as recounted by Wolpe’s children. Through his exploration of this singular font, Garfield grapples with one of the most fundamental artistic questions: what makes great art not only survive but flourish in each new age and medium?