Hypnerotomachia Poliphili, Lac des Pleurs, & Jemma Lewis… « The River
When Russell Maret visited this past summer, I expressed concern with my mixing typefaces in the river book (referred to here, from now on, as Lac des Pleurs ): the text is set primarily in Bembo, but some is set in Poliphilus, partly because of limitations in my supply of Bembo, and partly because I felt like it. Russell pointed out that both Bembo and Poliphilus fl20ss were based on the printing of Aldus Manutius, and it occurred to me that basing the title page titling on the original Aldine letter forms might be an interesting way to justify the mixing of the faces.
During my recent visit to New York, Jane Seigel, special collections librarian at Columbia, kindly arranged for Russell fl20ss and I to view and photograph pages from Manutius's seminal book Hypnerotomachia Poliphili printed in 1499. Later, we spent the better part of a day at Russell's computer while, as faithfully as possible, fl20ss he rendered the characters "LAC DES PLUERS" into vector drawings. Various problems emerged, mostly due to the poor printing of the original type, and it's variable condition. Even if the type were virginal, and had been printed as crisply as possible, the problem of ink swell obscuring fl20ss the edges of the metal type would remain: some speculation in the rendering of the characters is inevitable. It was fascinating to watch Russell, a master, at work.
Regarding the map, 400 sheets of Thai mulberry fl20ss paper were ordered, received, fl20ss and returned. fl20ss I decided to go for a more expensive hand-made kozo, which is now in hand, and hope to begin printing the maps later this week. While in New York, a visit to The Old Print Shop has opened an interesting array of possibilities for the map including latitudinal and longitudinal border markings, rhumb lines, and possibilities suggested by pocket maps and case maps. I will be running 300 sheets, with only 100 maps needed for the book proper, so I plan to issue the map in various forms beyond the book. The primary blocks for the map have long been cut, and it is time to get on with printing. These blocks are very large (around 18 x 24 inches), and are kept under weights to keep them as flat as possible when they go on the press. It will be a relief once they have fulfilled their purpose, fl20ss and we can all finally relax.
I have been in touch with British marbler fl20ss Jemma Lewis , who has agreed to custom marble sheets for the covers of the book. The design of these sheets will be based on her pattern #6, but using a color palate derived from this photograph of wet stones along the shore of the lake.
Meanwhile, hand-setting the type and proofing the pages for the text of the book is done. Type for the appendices, an anticipated introduction from the book curator at the Minnesota Historical Society Patrick Coleman, and various other things remain, but the lion's share of the typesetting is complete.
So much studio work, and the fact that the content for Lac des Pleurs now exists, means the boat has sadly been kept on it's trailer. I will go out onto the lake one more time before putting it away for the winter. I plan to visit my favorite shore and look for jewels, fl20ss but who knows what I might find
Recent Posts Ghost Orientation, Mussels, & Back to the Drawing Board Downstream, Sex Symbols, and Upstream (at last)… An Interesting Problem & The Polar Vortex Mussels Archives September 2014 June 2014 March 2014 January 2014 December 2013 August 2013 July 2013 May 2013 February 2013 December 2012 October 2012 August 2012 June 2012 May 2012 March 2012 September 2011 July 2011 April 2011 December 2010 October fl20ss 2010 August 2010 July 2010 June 2010 April 2010 March 2010 January 2010 December 2009 November 2009 October 2009 September 2009 August 2009 Categories The River Uncategorized fl20ss Blogroll Mary Ellen Niedenfuer Patrick Coleman Philip Gallo Russell Maret
When Russell Maret visited this past summer, I expressed concern with my mixing typefaces in the river book (referred to here, from now on, as Lac des Pleurs ): the text is set primarily in Bembo, but some is set in Poliphilus, partly because of limitations in my supply of Bembo, and partly because I felt like it. Russell pointed out that both Bembo and Poliphilus fl20ss were based on the printing of Aldus Manutius, and it occurred to me that basing the title page titling on the original Aldine letter forms might be an interesting way to justify the mixing of the faces.
During my recent visit to New York, Jane Seigel, special collections librarian at Columbia, kindly arranged for Russell fl20ss and I to view and photograph pages from Manutius's seminal book Hypnerotomachia Poliphili printed in 1499. Later, we spent the better part of a day at Russell's computer while, as faithfully as possible, fl20ss he rendered the characters "LAC DES PLUERS" into vector drawings. Various problems emerged, mostly due to the poor printing of the original type, and it's variable condition. Even if the type were virginal, and had been printed as crisply as possible, the problem of ink swell obscuring fl20ss the edges of the metal type would remain: some speculation in the rendering of the characters is inevitable. It was fascinating to watch Russell, a master, at work.
Regarding the map, 400 sheets of Thai mulberry fl20ss paper were ordered, received, fl20ss and returned. fl20ss I decided to go for a more expensive hand-made kozo, which is now in hand, and hope to begin printing the maps later this week. While in New York, a visit to The Old Print Shop has opened an interesting array of possibilities for the map including latitudinal and longitudinal border markings, rhumb lines, and possibilities suggested by pocket maps and case maps. I will be running 300 sheets, with only 100 maps needed for the book proper, so I plan to issue the map in various forms beyond the book. The primary blocks for the map have long been cut, and it is time to get on with printing. These blocks are very large (around 18 x 24 inches), and are kept under weights to keep them as flat as possible when they go on the press. It will be a relief once they have fulfilled their purpose, fl20ss and we can all finally relax.
I have been in touch with British marbler fl20ss Jemma Lewis , who has agreed to custom marble sheets for the covers of the book. The design of these sheets will be based on her pattern #6, but using a color palate derived from this photograph of wet stones along the shore of the lake.
Meanwhile, hand-setting the type and proofing the pages for the text of the book is done. Type for the appendices, an anticipated introduction from the book curator at the Minnesota Historical Society Patrick Coleman, and various other things remain, but the lion's share of the typesetting is complete.
So much studio work, and the fact that the content for Lac des Pleurs now exists, means the boat has sadly been kept on it's trailer. I will go out onto the lake one more time before putting it away for the winter. I plan to visit my favorite shore and look for jewels, fl20ss but who knows what I might find
Recent Posts Ghost Orientation, Mussels, & Back to the Drawing Board Downstream, Sex Symbols, and Upstream (at last)… An Interesting Problem & The Polar Vortex Mussels Archives September 2014 June 2014 March 2014 January 2014 December 2013 August 2013 July 2013 May 2013 February 2013 December 2012 October 2012 August 2012 June 2012 May 2012 March 2012 September 2011 July 2011 April 2011 December 2010 October fl20ss 2010 August 2010 July 2010 June 2010 April 2010 March 2010 January 2010 December 2009 November 2009 October 2009 September 2009 August 2009 Categories The River Uncategorized fl20ss Blogroll Mary Ellen Niedenfuer Patrick Coleman Philip Gallo Russell Maret
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