Letter Fountain

Looking back as far as man’s first efforts to communicate with visual signs and drawings, Letter Fountain is a completely unique typeface handbook, now available at a bargain student price. In addition to examining the form and anatomy of every letter in the alphabet, punctuation marks and special characters, the book examines over 150 typefaces, their origins, and font characteristics, visually explained by full page tables including scale, weight, and useful alternatives.

Cross-references allow typefaces to exist in a broader visual culture context, comparing important designs with seminal artpieces and movements, from Gutenberg’s era to today. Special attention is also given to the aesthetics of the digital age and the choice of the right typeface for a job. Rounding out the guide are an in-depth comparison between sans-serif and serif typefaces, an essay about measuring systems and indications, advice about typographic rules, plus a manual for developing digital fonts.