The Handy Book of Artistic Printing: Collection of Letterpress Examples with Specimens of Type, Ornament, Corner Fills, Borders, Twisters, Wrinklers, and other Freaks of Fancy (Paperback)

~ (Author), (Author)

Editorial Reviews

Review

"...what I love so much about The Handy Book is that it is not JUST vintage eye candy. Clouse and Voulangas provide historical context, explain the rise of this design aesthetic, discuss its relation to letterpress technology of the time, and bring things up to the present in considering its influence upon designers and letterpress printers today." --Handmade Librarian, June 26, 2009

"A beautiful reference book of the history of artistic printing. Artistic printing was an ornate, decorate style popular in the late nineteenth century and used by printers and engravers for posters, books, etc. This book celebrates this style with more than 150 examples of ephemera from this era. Examples of beautifully ornate and decorative typefaces, posters, pamphlets, tickets, invitation and business cards a wonderful collection and amazing source of inspiration. These ephemera are accompanied by in depth essays and historical background on the history of this style, why it became so popular and then fell out of favor so thoroughly. Interesting and inspiring for those interested in design." --Whipup

"Adolf Loos, the architect, condemned ornament as a sin. Yet there are much worse design crimes (and I'm sure you can share many in the comments section). Even if you subscribe to Loos's proto-modernist dictum, you may still enjoy the sinful pleasure of ornament. If so, I recommend a veritable Whitman's Sampler of ornamental confections from the Victorian age of "artistic" printing: The Handy Book of Artistic Printing: A Collection of Letterpress Examples with Specimens of Type, Ornament, Corner Fills, Borders, Twisters, Wrinklers, and Other Freaks of Fancy. Now that's a mouthful, but the title is no less ornate than the printers' flourishes that you'll find in this handsome volume by Doug Clouse and Angela Voulangas." --The Daily Heller

"After flipping through the pages I was left feeling incredibly inspired! The book shows examples of a highly decorative style of letterpress from the late 1800's- Rich, ornamental typography and graphics utilising gorgeous colour schemes and referencing motifs from different eras and cultures. " -- Amy Moss --EatDrinkChic, July 16, 2009

"Doug Clouse and Angela Voulangas book The Handy Book of Artistic Printing is one of the best publications devoted to the history of American artistic printing. This handsome book which was recently published by the Princeton Architectural Press,takes you back to the late nineteenth century where letterpress printers, engravers and lithographers boldly challenged the rational sobriety of traditional design by introducing intricate borders, corner embellishments and quirky typefaces...The book is particularly useful to graphic designers, fine artists and type designers." --Upscale Typography

"During the late 19th century printers, engravers and lithographers challenged traditional design by introducing exotic images and quirky typefaces known as artistic style. Letterpress printers grabbed it and packaging, ads and more were changes by the new commercial styles. Then it suddenly became unpopular. The rise and fall of this style is traced in a largely neglected survey of this era of design history and makes for a powerful selection for any arts collection." -- Diane Donovan --The Midwest Book Review

"For the Letterpress enthusiast with a thing for those long ago freaky days of fancy, I give you: The Handy Book of Artistic Printing: Collection of Letterpress Examples with Specimens of Type, Ornament, Corner Fills, Borders, Twisters, Wrinklers, and other Freaks of Fancy by Doug Clouse and Angela Voulangas." --Printeresting

"I bought some books from Book Depository the other week and two of them were typography related, Mike Perrys Hand Job and The Handy Book of Artistic Printing. I really relish these books because I dont often by them for myself, and I'd been eying them for a while!" --Defnatalie

"I'm a firm believer in Keep It Simple, Stupid, but some design solutions just call for a little more flourish and ornamentation. The Handy Book of Artistic Printing is a lovely celebration of 19th Century letterpress printing specimens and typography. It's a the perfect resource for the design/type nerd whos looking to make their work a little more flowery." -- John Martz --Drawn! Illustration & Cartoon Art

"If good, old-fashioned prettiness, then you will be smitten by the new Handy Book of Artistic Printing. The book celebrates the excess and ornamentation of 19th century engraving and printing.**Since I'm not one to have entirely embraced modern design's simplicity, this is right up my alley... you're a fan of Victorian print culture, typography, or just love." --Nothing Elegant

"Suddenly artistic printing is on my radar, now more than ever.... The phrase less is more was not the case with this 19th century aesthetic." --Faye + Co., June 9, 2009

"The Handy Book of Artistic Printing beautifully reproduces more than 150 examples of this lost and disparaged work, along with essays that contextualize the movement in the history of American printing. .... likely to inspire a nostalgia in art lovers. The book is a reminder that debates about aesthetics were once undertaken with a deadly seriousness, and that experimentation in the commercial realm was once the norm." --The Wall Street Journal, July 30, 2009

"The Handy Book of Artistic Printing covers an oft forgotten period of design history. In the 19th-Century engravers, printers, and the like struck out against the traditional design and presented intricate boarders, corner embellishments, and quirky typefaces. Advertisers jumped at the new style, which became known as Artistic. As quickly as the style was adopted, it just as abruptly fell out of favor. The authors of The Handy Book of Artistic Printing assess the origins of the look in the British Aesthetic Movement and provide firm analysis of key features." --Selectism, June 10, 2009

"These luscious typographic bon bons will astonish your eye, stun your mind, and rekindle your darkest cravings." -- Ellen Lupton (June, 2009) --Ellen Lupton, curator of contemporary design Cooper - Hewitt, National Design Museum

"These luscious typographic bon bons will astonish your eye, stun your mind, and rekindle your darkest cravings." --Ellen Lupton, June 2009

"When I heard of this book, The Handy Book of Artistic Printing I ordered it immediately. Upon its arrival I was instantly inspired by its contents: the diverse layouts, the complex and minute details, and the color palettes. I spent days sketching and flagging pages and when I finally sat down to the computer this postcard design came to life." --2Birdstone

"You know I love typography and fanciness, and The Handy Book of Artistic Printing combines the two to create the perfect present for me." --Defnatalie

Review

"Adolf Loos, the architect, condemned ornament as a sin. Yet there are much worse design crimes (and I'm sure you can share many in the comments section). Even if you subscribe to Loos's proto-modernist dictum, you may still enjoy the sinful pleasure of ornament. If so, I recommend a veritable Whitman's Sampler of ornamental confections from the Victorian age of "artistic" printing: The Handy Book of Artistic Printing: A Collection of Letterpress Examples with Specimens of Type, Ornament, Corner Fills, Borders, Twisters, Wrinklers, and Other Freaks of Fancy. Now that's a mouthful, but the title is no less ornate than the printers' flourishes that you'll find in this handsome volume by Doug Clouse and Angela Voulangas."

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Paperback: 232 pages
• Publisher: Princeton Architectural Press; 1 edition (May 20, 2009)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1568987056
• ISBN-13: 978-1568987057
• Product Dimensions: 9.9 x 7.9 x 1 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.6 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (3 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #32,674 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

  Popular in these categories: (What's this?)

  #7 in	Books > Arts & Photography > Design & Decorative Arts > Graphic Design > Printmaking
  #10 in	Books > Computers & Internet > Graphic Design > Printing
  #22 in	Books > Arts & Photography > Design & Decorative Arts > Graphic Design > Typography

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

6 of 6 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A total treat!, June 1, 2009

By	bookverm (Cambridge, MA USA) - See all my reviews

If my university library is ever missing some of its Victorian-era books -- the ones with those elaborate cover designs and long-winded titles -- the prime suspect will be me. However, the danger of me actually stealing one of these objects of desire is much lessened now that I can enjoy a full tour of the whole of artistic printing in one lush volume. What a cool book, and you can tell just from the title how much fun the authors had putting this luxurious masterpiece together. The writing is packed with fun facts, scholarly history, and wry commentary, and the images are a plentiful, detailed, and take you back to a time when people just went nuts with their printing presses. Now that my first copy has been broken in, I'm hoping someone gives me another copy for my birthday (wink wink!) to keep in pristine condition. For everyone who has taken a fancy to the printing on everything from old-West wanted posters to antique packages, this book is a total treat.

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A powerful selection for any arts collection, September 18, 2009

By	Midwest Book Review (Oregon, WI USA) - See all my reviews

During the late 19th century printers, engravers and lithographers challenged traditional design by introducing exotic images and quirky typefaces known as 'artistic' style. Letterpress printers grabbed it and packaging, ads and more were changes by the new commercial styles. Then it suddenly became unpopular. The rise and fall of this style is traced in a largely neglected survey of this era of design history and makes for a powerful selection for any arts collection.

2 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Finally, June 12, 2009

By	Matteo Bologna (New york, NY United States) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

Finally a book about an art (yes printing can be an art) that was neglected by mainstream book publishing.
This book is fun, interesting and well written. The samples shown are incredible.
I suggest it to everybody: from the historian to the lover of contemporary cool type.
There is always something to learn from the past and from this book there is plenty to learn.