Arion Press: "Typefoundry in Silhouette" by Rudolf Koch. Limited Edition, 1982

Description: Excellent copy of the ninth book object published by Andrew Hoyem's Arion Press, "The Typefoundry In Silhouette" by Rudolph Koch. Letterpress printed in 1982. Translated into English from the 1918 first edition by Alexander Nesbitt. Oblong 4to, portfolio. Descriptive verses handset in Jessenschrift, one of Koch's types. Silhouettes are printed, as in the original, from photo-engravings in black ink, while the type is printed in red. The format is full-scale, 9 by 12 inches oblong. The paper is a heavy weight British mouldmade sheet of 100% cotton fibre. The set is enclosed in a portfolio of red cloth imported from Germany. One of a limited edition of 500 copies. Decorative folder with very slight wear. Near fine. Comes with two copies of the prospectus, which one dealer is selling at 50 bucks a pop! Plus a cute little letterpressed dealers discount card on fine paper tucked into one of them. A wonderful production from what was arguably the 20th century's most innovative American fine press. From the Prospectus: The Typefoundry in SilhouetteA PORTFOLIO OF TWENTY-FIVE SILHOUETTES by Rudolf Koch, depicting the steps in the design and manufacture of a typeface cast in metal, reproduced from the first edition of 1918, with verses translated from the German by Alexander Nesbitt. Students of printing history will welcome the ninth publication of the Arion Press. We have revived the charming and informative sequence of pictures made by Rudolf Koch to demonstrate the proc- esses of typefounding. Although a few plates from the series may be familiar from reproductions in books or catalogues, the two editions published in Germany (the original issue of 1918 and a reduced- format version of 1937) are very rare and nearly unobtainable to- day. Furthermore, the explanatory text, written by Koch in verse, had never been translated into English. We are proud to offer the first American edition, reprinting all 25 plates from the first edition, with a new translation by Professor Alexander Nesbitt. An intro- duction has been written by Andrew Hoyem. The Typefoundry in Silhouette provides a visual record of a van- ishing trade that began with the invention of printing from movable types and has continued for 500 years. In the printing industry of the present, rapid technological changes have all but replaced metal type with the electronically generated images of photo-composition. Those few foundries that remain supply the limited market for fine printing by letterpress. Even in 1918, Koch was aware that the crafts of the hand punch-cutter and the caster of individual pieces of type were soon to be obsolete. But these antiquated methods achieved such beautiful letterforms that modern technology still struggles to equal them. Each of the stages in the development of printing types holds fascination for those of us who appreciate aesthetic quality in contemporary typography. Seldom have technical and manufacturing processes been illus- trated with such artistry and integrity. Rudolf Koch (1876-1934) is regarded as one of the greatest calligraphers and type designers of the twentieth century. From 1906 until his death, he was affiliated with the Klingspor Foundry in Offenbach, Germany, where he created many families of original alphabets. The silhouettes were printed and published by that firm to promote its product. Koch was a pictorial as well as a lettering artist and his book illustrations, particularly in the woodcut, made important contributions to German Expressionism. Snipping silhouettes from black paper had been a popular artform from Victorian times, commonly seen as miniature portraits in profile. Using a knife to cut lines similar to his woodblocks, Koch achieved remarkable graphic effects in his silhouettes, capturing whole rooms full of complicated machinery while portraying himself, his employer and his colleagues at work. accuracy of detail gives these pictures significance for printing history. Their composition and execution gives them broader appealas works of art. We have produced the set as individual sheets so that they can be displayed. The descriptive verses are handset in Jessenschrift, one of Koch's types. The silhouettes are printed, as in the original, from photo-engravings in black ink, while the type is printed in red. The format is full-scale, 9 by 12 inches oblong. The paper is a heavy weight British mouldmade sheet of 100% cotton fibre. The set is enclosed in a portfolio of red cloth imported from Germany. The edition is 500 copies and is priced at $50.00 plus shipping and appropriate sales tax. Send your order to:The Arion Press

Price: 130 USD

Location: Decatur, Georgia

End Time: 2024-12-10T01:28:59.000Z

Shipping Cost: 6.5 USD