THROUGH THE CENTURIES

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume LXXIII, 3 December 1940, Page 6

THROUGH THE CENTURIES

HISTORY OF PRINTING TYPES With the commemoration of the invention of orinting types it is interesting to observe how printing has impreved over the years. This history of printing types makes an absorbing tory, not only for the printer but for the layman. In the development of the type-founder's art are found men of every race striving for perfection and assisting each other to bring printing into the category of the finer arts. Migrating from Germany into Italy, the early printers advanced the art of printing in Rome and Venice, which later oecame the most important centres of fine art printing. According to the authorities, the first men to set up " pi ess in Italy were Sweynheim and Pannartz in 1465 They used what is described as transitional Gothic type, h’rom here type design changed over to what is known as Roman face. Probably one of the greatest of all type founders was the Frenchman Nicholas - T e ison, who is credited with having developed the first real Roman type, which is the basis for a great number o* tvpes to-day. ITALIC TYPES The first of the Italic types were produced by Aldus Manutius in 1501. Later these and the Roman races were improved by Ludovice Arrighi. Claude Geramond and Robert Granjon. Because of the “import restrictions” caused through the war between England and France in the early part of the eighteenth century. French type was not obtainable in England. Thus British printers were forced to instruct William Caslon, London, to cut a new type face. This is said to be the most perfect ever >-tit From 1720 Caslon was used exclusively by British printers. Then C'.ne John Baskerville. Birmingham, who added a type which was popular with both British and Continental craftsmen. “GOLDEN” TYPE Baskerville. it is believed, influenced G.anbattisi Bodoni. of Parma. Italy, who made by far the most important type face that had been designed for years. Fi.’doni s type was one of the most popular because it was easily read. W th the coming of the industrial revolution. type founding as well as printing reflected the ruling conditions. For trie next 80 years printing experienced what is known as the “dark ages.” and i* was not till 1891 that the “Golden" type of William Morris re-established English printing. Returning to the original classic type developed bv Nicholas Jenson in 1470. Morris pointed the way f- r future printers. Improvements from then on were steady and to-day the printer has available literally hundreds of type faces.