Rare Book Monthly
Book Catalogue Reviews - February - 2008 Issue
Recent Books about the Book Arts from Oak Knoll
Typeforms A History and other works from Oak Knoll Press.
By Michael Stillman
Oak Knoll Press has put out a pamphlet of recent books pertaining to the book arts. Of course, Oak Knoll Books is noted for selling older books in the "books about books" genre, but note the subtle distinction. This publication comes from Oak Knoll Press, explaining the recently released titles. Here is a brief description of a few found in Typeforms a history and other titles from Oak Knoll.
Typeforms A History, by Alan Bartram. This book describes 75 different types and places them in their historical context. Bartram also looks at contemporary lettering on buildings and monuments to consider the relationship between printed and architectural forms.
Letterpress Printing, by Paul Maravelas. This is a guide to printing on a letterpress meant to assist those operating fine presses today.
The Encyclopedia of the Book, by Geoffrey Ashall Glaister. This book includes almost 4,000 terms and definitions used in the book trades. It also contains biographies of printers, authors, bookbinders and bibliophiles, information about book societies and organizations, and lots more.
Five Hundred Years of Printing, by S.H. Steinberg. This work covers the entire history of printing, yet still finds room for 100 illustrations taken from the British Library.
How Typography Happens, by Ruari McLean. This work covers the development of typography as an art, beginning in the 17th century.
The SP Century, edited by Scott-Martin Kosofsky. This work celebrates the centennial of Boston’s Society of Printers with numerous essays.
Edward Johnston Master Calligrapher, by Peter Holliday. Oak Knoll notes that Mr. Johnston was a "man of letters," quite literally. He was a noted London calligrapher and typeface designer.
Historical Scripts from Classical Times to the Renaissance, by Stan Knight. Typefaces can only go back 500 years, but calligraphy goes back thousands of years. Here is a look.
Oak Knoll Press (and Books) may be visited online at www.oakknoll.com, telephone 800-996-2556, email orders@oakknoll.com.
