Customer Reviews

Encyclopaedia of Typefaces, Fifth Edition

5 star:		(3)
4 star:		(1)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(1)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

A great reference!

The reason some typefaces in this book are incomplete is that . . . they are incomplete! A complete alphabet does not exist (read the text, dummy).

Believe it or not (and setting aside the ambiguous ethical question of appropriation), the purpose of a book like this is not to provide ready-made cut-n-paste-able typefaces for you to rip off, but to serve as a reference.

This encyclopaedia is thorough in the range of established and classic typestyles. Most contain some information as to its origin, unique qualities, and applications, making this more than just a specimen book.

I have the 1958 edition of this book as was hesitant to order this newer edition for fear that it wouldn't have many newer fonts. I was surprised to find a new spacious format and a better classification system. Anyone interested in type faces should have a copy of this book.

This is a valuable reference work with the type faces very well organized. If you are interested in type face design and the history of type, this book is a must!

This book may have many samples of typefaces but it does not have all alphabet. Some typefaces only have four letters. And all of them have no punctuations.

If you're looking for a type specimen book, try Adobe Type Library Reference Book (ISBN: 0321136462) instead! Though it shows only one size (about 20pt,) and Adobe's only, it has everything in that set.