Stanley Morison (1889–1967)

A short but lovely keepsake containing bits from Morison's text on typography. A favorite passage: "There are two features of organization common to architecture and building, typography and printing which must be respected as a primary principle and obeyed as such by both arts: that of respect for the materials used, and their use consistently with the essential social purposes of both arts. The typographical activity, like architecture, is a servant art. These are the arts which, by their show more nature, are predestined to serve civilization." show less

This book provides a great insight into the history and design of type, and quite a bit of the commentary is useful even today. Morison is well known, of course, for the Times New Roman face - and there is a section in the book on that face. But his commentary on the designing of faces like Plantin and Bembo is much more interesting, if you ask me. Also, if you are at all a fan of Eric Gill, you will like the section on Perpetua and Felicity. Anyone interested in the history of type should show more have this book, that much is certain. show less

This is a valuable and informative pocket-sized introduction to the history, content and use of the various prayer books, missals, antiphoners and other liturgical resources used by the various ecclesial bodies in England from the beginnings of Christianity in the British Isles to the time of writing. With valuable discussions of liturgical draughtmanship, printing and chant and sources. Not absolutely without error (it can usefully be supplemented by consideration of Mark Dalby's "Anglican show more Missal and their Canons) it is nonetheless an indispensible work on a recondite subject. show less