A History of Lettering: Creative Experiment and Letter Identity

by Nicolete Gray
A History of Lettering: Creative Experiment and Letter Identity cover
Good Books rating 3.83
Art, Design, and Photography
Technical
  • ID: 2188
  • Added: 2025-10-12
  • Updated: 2025-10-12
  • Published: 1986-01-01
  • Reviews: 3

This book delves into the rich history of lettering, exploring its transformation from ancient times to modern-day applications. It examines the cultural, artistic, and technological influences that have shaped lettering styles across different eras. The author provides a detailed analysis of various lettering techniques, materials, and tools, highlighting key figures and movements that have contributed to the evolution of lettering. The book also discusses the impact of digital technology on contemporary lettering practices.

Reviews
HowJoyful · 2025-10-12
positive 4.00

The book receives mixed reviews, but the reviewer finds it personally insightful and valuable for understanding lettering history.

While acknowledging that there are mixed reviews about this book, the reviewer at HowJoyful shares their positive personal experience. They find the book to be insightful and valuable, particularly for those looking to understand the history and creative experimentations in lettering. The book's detailed exploration of letter identity and its evolution over time is highlighted as a key strength.

Quick quotes

    I've read mixed reviews about it, but my personal experience with it ...

    A History of Lettering: Creative Experiment and Letter Identity by Nicolete Gray.

    The best way to start on lettering is by taking a look at what has been done.

HowJoyful · 2025-10-12
positive 4.50

The book is recommended as a great starting point for anyone interested in lettering, offering a comprehensive look at historical letter forms.

The reviewer at HowJoyful suggests that this book is an excellent introduction to the world of lettering. They emphasize that it provides a comprehensive survey of letter forms from Roman times to the present day, making it a valuable resource for beginners. The focus on periods of creative experiment and letter identity is particularly noteworthy, offering readers a deep dive into the evolution of lettering styles.

Quick quotes

    The best way to start on lettering is by taking a look at what has been done.

    A comprehensive survey of the letter form from Roman times to the present day.

    Special emphasis is given to periods of experiment or ...

Paul Shaw Letter Design · Paul Shaw · 2009-10-01
mixed 3.00

The book is praised for its factual accuracy and typographic correctness, but the essays are deemed useless and the captions sparse.

Paul Shaw appreciates the book's thoroughness and accuracy in its depiction of lettering history. They highlight the lack of factual and typographic errors, making it a reliable reference. However, they find the essays to be unhelpful and the captions too brief, which detracts from the overall experience. The book's strengths lie in its visual and historical content, but its written components could use improvement.

Quick quotes

    There are relatively few factual errors and virtually no typographic ones in the book.

    However, the essays are useless and the sparse captions ...

    The book's strengths lie in its visual and historical content

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