A Specimen of Three Book Types designed by Eric Gill: Joanna, Joanna Italic, Perpetua

Item Details

High Wycombe, Printed by Hague & Gill for private distribution, 1934

First Edition. 12mo. 31, [1] pp. Index. With the personal bookplate of Frederic Melcher - an American publisher, editor, and a major contributor to the library science field and book industry; Melcher has been described as "the greatest all-round bookman in the English-speaking world".  He is particularly known for his contributions to the children's book genre, including the Newberry Medal and Caldecott Medal. Blue cloth with gilt lettering to front cover. Darkening to covers; light wear to extremities; a very good copy of a rare example of two original Eric Gill typefaces in a single volume. 

The Perpetua typeface was designed by Eric Gill between 1925 and 1930 was his first major typeface and is used in the headings, titles, and short passages in this book. Gill designed the Joanna typeface in 1930–31 and named it after his daughter, Joanna. This book demonstrates the potential of these three typefaces in various placements.