Europe for TYPOPHILES
Such a record of Eric Gill's writing and illustration
is inescapably a reflection of conviction in practice,
of tremendous vigor, of controversy and spirited
discussion. Readers of this bibliography are likely to
come to it with some knowledge of Gill and to finish
it wanting to know a great deal more. The book
yields many glimpses of Eric Gill the architect,
sculptor, type-designer, wood engraver, philosopher
and writer (and this is no exhaustive list) appearing
now in one role, now in another. Many details will
rouse the reader's curiosity about Gill's associations
with Edward Johnston, with Douglas Pepler and
Saint Dominic's Press, with the Cranach and Golden
Cockerel Presses, with Rene Hague in the firm of
Hague and Gill, to begin a long and interesting list.
The book is filled with signposts pointing the way
into the history of printing and the graphic arts in
this twentieth Century.
The division of the book into five sections (Gill's
books and pamphlets, books and periodicals to which
he contributed, publications and books which he
illustrated or in which his work was used, criticism,
and miscellanea) has sense in it and is a necessary
concession to the variety of Gill's activities. Notably
good reading is the section devoted to major criti-
cisms of and references to his work; here are many
suggestions of what his contemporaries were saying
of him.
The bibliography is illustrated with ninety-six
facsimiles of title-pages, most of them much reduced
in size. The type pages only are shown. These are
useful for identification, but some readers will regret
not being able to see how the type was originally
imposed on the page. Indicating the page outlines
would have been specially useful in the few places
where the reproductions need to be set off more from
each other or from the text.
Very infrequently has the sprite who plays tricks
with spellings slipped past an alert editorial guard.
On page 184 he did manage to turn Carl Purington
Rollins' last name into 'Robbins.'
Sometimes in Community records the looker comes
in the midst of matters of fact upon a flash of tone
amused, disapproving, affectionate, intimate. In the
records of books the same pleasant surprise lies in
wait. Evan Gill's bibliography is especially enjoyable
where the author's affections and opinions show
through in moments of tone.
Priced in England at sixty-three Shillings this
bibliography sclls in the United States for $12.50,
a reasonable price for a book which reflects so much
care on the part of both writer and printer.
Bibliography of Eric Gill. By Evan R. Gill (foreword by
Walter Shewring). Cassell Co. Ltd., London. 1953.
Published in the U.S.A. by British Book Centre, New
York. 6% x 9% inches. xv 223 pp. 96 illustrations. $12.50.
S.H.
For GRAPHIC artists with a yen to travel, the Ameri
can Artist Magazine announces arrangements with
American Express for a guided 36-day ($1539) tour
of Europe's famous typefounderies, printing planes,
paper mills, museums and other spots of professional
and historic interest. In England, Sheffield, Oxford
and London will be covered while, on the continent,
the tourist will also visit Paris, Amsterdam, Antwerp,
Brüssels, Mainz, Frankfurt, Zürich, Rome, Florence,
Milan and Venice. This is the first year that the
American Artist has planned a special tour for those
particularly interested in the graphic arts, although
their sponsored Grand Art Tour of Europe has
enjoyed sustained popularity for five years.
Guiding the tour will be Eugene M. Ettenberg,
whose long and distinguished career in the graphic
arts finds him well-equipped for his role of Tour
Director. He is Vice President and Director of the
American Institute of Graphic Arts, Technical Editor
of "American Printer," lecturer, teacher, author of
I ype for Books and Advertising" and founder of
the A.I.G.A. Workshop of Printing and Design. The
graphic artists touring Europe with him will find a
ready answer to all professional questions. American
Express has also arranged for recreation and enter-
tainment en route.
The tour is limited to 30 persons, who will leave
New York aboard the Queen Elizabeth on May 29th
and return via 1 rans World Airlines from Paris on
June 22nd. American Artist Magazine provides
reservation blanks.
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