The first and most authoritative history of wood type in the united states is now reissued in paperback. Rob roy kelly is the author of american wood type 4. He began gathering the types in the late 1950s and continued adding to the collection over the next decade. Specimens of wood type presented to the school of library service, columbia university by maurice annenberg. Rob roy kelly american wood type collection, the university of texas at austin. Rob roy kelly, throughout his many years of dedication to the study of wood type, amassed an invaluable collection of wood printing material.
With issue 3 1987 april greimans special foldout issue dq was the first to use new digital imaging tools. This is no doubt one of the largest aspects of davids research so far. The type block is stamped hamilton, two rivers, wis. The collected writings of rob roy kelly at the rochester institute of technology, new york. Woodtyper the rob roy kelly american wood type collection. Hamilton in his 1895 devinne series wood type specimens this cut of devinne was shown in american wood type on page 239 and in the folio on page 25. A remarkable new website for the rob roy kelly american wood type collection has just been launched, built on research and work by david shields first, an abbreviated history of the collection. Oct 08, 20 chromatic wood type goes colorimetric at rit oct 20 by amelia hugillfontanel of rit cary graphic arts. Jul 06, 2015 most of the designs are kept true to their reference sources, and with the assistance of researchers such as david shields formerly of the rob roy kelly american wood type collection in austin, tx, background information on the type styles and insights into their original manufacturing process can be relayed. Fat faces were produced by all american wood type manufacturers until they began to decline in popularity in the late 1840s. Book awards book club selections books by author books by series coming soon kids books new releases teens books this months biggest new releases. This book tells the complete story of wood type, beginning with the history of wood as a printing material, the development of decorated letters and large letters, and the invention of.
This book tells the complete story of wood type, beginning with the history of wood. The rrk, or rob roy kelly american wood type collection is a collection of over 150 nineteenthcentury american wood type specimens assembled by design educator, collector, and historian rob roy kelly. The fonts have been selected from rob roy kelly s extensive personal collection of wood type alphabets. The condensing and expanding of type designs has been attributed to americans more than to europeans, and there is evidence that many of these variations sprang from the wood type producers. The rob roy kelly american wood type collection is a comprehensive. Alastair johnston kate van winkle keller, printers of ballads, books, and newspapers. To a national profession well on the way to succumbing to nixonera helvetica. Notes on the evolution of decorated and large types and comments on related trades of the period, published by van nostrand reinhold in 1969. This is a nice book that shows complete alphabets of 100 wood type fonts. Rob roy kelly march 15, 1925 january 22, 2004 was a graphic design educator and wood type collector. Types of wood gothic lettering american words rob roy kelly american wood type collection. In his 1964 american wood types folio, rob roy kelly published 15 manufacturers stamps, with dates of use, and included an explanation of the stamping process. This book does what it was intended for and the font showings will assist in locating digital fonts that are the same or similar. The folio, hand printed by rob roy kelly 19252004 in an edition of 45, was well received and quickly sold to private collectors and notable.
Rob roy kelly american wooden type rob roy kelly 19252004 was an american educator and wood type collector, best know for his 1996 text, american wood type, 18281900. Rob roy kelly, a graphic design educator, historian and collector whose influential book on the history of 19thcentury american wood type prompted a major typographic revival in the 1970s, died on jan. Rob roy kelly, a graphic design educator, historian and collector whose influential book on the history of 19thcentury american wood type prompted a major typographic revival in. Page introduced aetna as a sturdier display roman in his 1870 specimens of wood type, to replace his bythen outmoded fat face romans. In 1966, when kelly could no longer maintain his massive. Wood type research 50th anniversary of kellys american. Jan 10, 2019 my entire attitude changed while drinking a beer in the sun, reading american wood type. What are the bestmost accessible references for identifying wood type, either online or in print.
This 2010 reissue edition of rob roy kelly s 1969 publication is the most comprehensive history of wood type manufacturing. This type measures 8 line in size and was produced with the endcut method. Rob and his wife, jaki, have built four innovative cordwood homes for themselves since 1975, including the earthwood home where they have lived for over three decades. Rob roy kelly, 78, specialist in wood type the new york. Rob roy kelly, 78, specialist in wood type the new york times. Shields has also designed a new cover with types from the collection, inspired by the cover of kelly s 1964 folio precursor to the book. The rrk is housed in the design division of the department of art and art history at the university of texas at austin. American metal typefaces of the twentieth century, mac mcgrew.
Adobe systems has released a large collection of digitisations inspired by nineteenthcentury wood type. I am working on tracking down all 45 copies of rob roy kelly s 1964 american wood types folio im working on building this census to celebrate the 50th anniversary of kelly s publishing his folio though i have missed that anniversary by a few months. This book tells the complete story of wood type, beginning with the history of wood as a printing. The book was officially published on october 1969. This reissue includes a new foreword by david shields, design curator of the rob roy kelly wood type collection at the university of texas at austin, discussing the renewed interest in the subject since the mid1990s as well as ongoing research into the history of wood type. The type block does not have a manufacturers stamp. Each font features a complete alphabet of capitals, and many. Contents of printing history new series american printing. Of the thirteen pages in his specimen book, nine pages show fat face types. According to the rob roy kelly woodtype collection website, it has the distinction of being one of those woodtypes that was cut first in wood and copied in metal later. This newest reissue features a short foreword by david shields, caretaker of the rob roy kelly american wood type collection, in which he gives a brief history of the book and explains the impact it continues to have on designers and printers myself included. The cause was chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, his wife, mary helen, said.
American wood type the first and most authoritative history of wood type in the united states is now reissued in paperback. Be the first to ask a question about american wood type. Rob roy kelly american wood type collection facebook. Books in the silver buckle press collection database represent printing history materials from their reference shelf. Antique tuscan was designed by wells and webb and was. Did you know that the design lab in the college of fine arts at the university of texas, austin, is home to over 150 specimens of nineteenthcentury wood type. Notes on the evolution of decorated and large types by kelly, rob roy and a great selection of related books, art and collectibles available now at. Rob roy is an anglicization of the gaelic nickname raibeart ruadh, which translates to red robert, a reference to the mans hair. I love typography ilt fonts, typefaces, the the lettering arts. Recent research into rob roy kelly s american wood type collection. Notes on the evolution of decorated and large types and comments on related trades of the period a da capo paperback. He was also a highly respected design educator whose interest in the pedagogy of teaching a creative discipline led to an immensely valuable body of writings on the subject.
In addition to the catalog noted here, rob roy kelly s american wood type. A designer, educator and writer for nearly fifty years, he was best known for a single book. David shields, considering rob roy kellys american wood type collection. I have rob roy kellys american wood type 18281900, but it is not very userfriendly for finding any particular font. This book tells the complete story of wood type, beginning. The rob roy kelly wood type collection, held at the university of texas at austin, is a comprehensive collection of wood type, comprised of nearly 150 faces of various sizes and styles. An illustrated guide to letterpress printing, by glen u. Notes on the evolution of decorated and large types and comments on related trades of the period by rob roy kelly 2010, paperback at the best online prices at ebay. Notes on the evolution of decorated and large types and comments on related trades of the period a da capo paperback kelly, rob roy on. Rob roy kelly was born in nebraska on march 15, 1925, later studying design at the university of nebraska on the g. This book tells the story of wood type, its uses and its charm. The allure of the handmade, by david jury general printing. Notes on the evolution of decorated and large logo types and comments on related trades of the period rob roy kelly on.
Read more 50th anniversary of kellys american wood type. The folio, hand printed by rob roy kelly 19252004 in an edition of. Rob roy kelly 19252004 the noted design educator, collector, and historian began gathering the types in the late 1950s and continued adding to the. For a taste, visit the university of texass dedicated rob roy kelly page. Rob roy kelly march 15, 1925 january 22, 2004 was a graphic design educator and wood type collector biography. Dq was the clarion of postwar modernism and postmodernism. They also tended to be undecorated letters, which, as rob roy kelly described in american wood type, obtain a decorative quality from an active contour and generally include some visual ambiguity between letterform and counter. This cut of devinne italic was not shown in either american wood type or in the folio. Rob roy kelly had a fascinating background and left a wonderful legacy for students interested in old typography. Rob roy kelly, a graphic design educator, historian and collector whose influential book on the history of 19thcentury american wood type.
A treatise on the procesess of typemaking, the point system, the names, sizes, styles, and price of plain printing types. Rob roy is director of the earthwood building school, which has specialized in cordwood masonry instruction since 1980. Types of wood lettering typography layout alphabet gothic american archive fonts hand painted security check required rob roy kelly american wood type collection. Thirtythree years after its most recent printing, rob roy kelly s seminal book on wood type, american wood type. Kelsey informs me that the book is being printed digitally, ondemand, from highresolution scans. In 1969, he published american wood type, 18281900, which was one of the first books to explore wood type in vernacular printing. Bill after serving in the army during the korean war. These semiornamental tuscans, which became known as american tuscans, supplanted the earlier european styles. The silver buckle press collection uw digital collections.
Each font is represented by a complete alphabet of capitals, while many include lowercase letters, as well as numerals and punctuation marks, along with useful and decorative motifs from wood blocks. Antique tuscans in america hamilton wood type museum. Download a free digital edition of the book at thecollections. American wood type, 1828 1900 goodreads share book. Biographical notes and checklists for nathaniel coverly, sr. Rob roy kelly 19252004 is best known for his investigations into the history, design, and manufacture of nineteenthcentury wood type. Rob roy kellys 1964 american wood types folio briar. Wood type had a place in every print shop composing room. The rob roy kelly american wood type collection is a comprehensive collection of wood type manufactured and used for. Museum closed temporarily to protect the community, our volunteers and staff, we. An important early reference work that predates kelly s landmark study american wood type.
Jan 07, 2011 if you never experienced the walker art centers design quarterly youve missed one of the important documents of design history and practice. Notes on the evolution of decorated and large types and comments on related trades of the period. Thirtythree years after its most recent printing, rob roy kellys seminal book on wood type, american wood type. Notable collections of original wood type are held by the hamilton in wisconsin and the university of texas at austin, collected by rob roy kelly, writer of a wellknown book on american poster types. Born in scotland in the late 17th century, rob roy macgregor grew up in a relatively peaceful time in scotlands history, with nearly 18 years free of the clan warfare that normally ravaged the country. Five years later he would use this explanation to accompany 16 manufacturers stamps in his book american wood type 18281900. This book tells the complete story of wood type, beginning with the history of wood as a printing material, the development of decorated letters and large letters, and the invention of machinery for massproducing wood letters. Recent research into rob roy kellys american wood type collection. The rob roy kelly american wood type collection is a comprehensive collection of wood type. I was printing a book, about a subject that i knew absolutely nothing. Honorariums and fees vary depending on scope of the collection. An important early reference work that predates kellys landmark study american wood type. A must have book for the typography that loves the history of wood type. The rich designs and figureground qualities of 19thcentury ameri.
The answer is provided in rob roy kellys book american wood type. Rob roy kelly did excellent research in compiling this book. This handsome, immensely readable survey willfascinate typographers, designers, printers. In 1946 it was also the first design journal issued by a museum. It would seem reasonable to distinguish between round, referring to types with completely round stroke endings like a semicircle attached at the end and rounded to describe types that have rounded corners defined with a certain radius, edges and transitions of bends and stems, etc. Rob roy kelly american wood type collection posts facebook. Types of wood to use for cordwood green home building. The 350page tome is being republished in paperback form by matt kelsey at the liber apertus press in saratoga, california. Feb 01, 2004 rob roy kelly, a graphic design educator, historian and collector whose influential book on the history of 19thcentury american wood type prompted a major typographic revival in the 1970s, died. Hamilton in his 1895 devinne series wood type specimens.
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