Printing Types: Their History, Forms, and Use; A Study in Survivals, Volume 2
by: Updike, Daniel Berkeley

Hardcover. Cambridge MA, Harvard University Press, 2nd Ed., 1951, Book: Very Good, Dust Jacket: None, Hardcover, spine stamped with gilt lettering, 325 pages. Ex-lib copy with light stamping, residue to endpapers, lettering on spine. Interior clean. Offers a detailed examination of printing types across Europe from the 16th to the 19th centuries. The author delves into the history, evolution, and use of various fonts, exploring the rise and fall of different styles and the influence of prominent printers and type foundries. The book highlights the shift in printing dominance from France to the Netherlands, emphasizing the remarkable contributions of Christophe Plantin and the Elzevir family. The narrative examines the interplay between typographic innovation and the broader cultural and religious landscape, showing how printing techniques reflected evolving aesthetic sensibilities, scholarly trends, and the political climate of the era. The book also explores the economic and social aspects of the printing industry, including the role of censorship, labor conditions, and the evolving relationship between printers, publishers, and patrons.