KARL FORSBERG BERLING ROMAN TYPEFACE TYPE DESIGN w/ ORIGINAL SIGNED CALLIGRAPHY, US $142 – Picture 0

KARL FORSBERG BERLING ROMAN TYPEFACE TYPE DESIGN w/ ORIGINAL SIGNED CALLIGRAPHY, US $142 – Picture 1

KARL FORSBERG BERLING ROMAN TYPEFACE TYPE DESIGN w/ ORIGINAL SIGNED CALLIGRAPHY, US $142 – Picture 2

KARL FORSBERG BERLING ROMAN TYPEFACE TYPE DESIGN w/ ORIGINAL SIGNED CALLIGRAPHY, US $142 – Picture 3

KARL FORSBERG BERLING ROMAN TYPEFACE TYPE DESIGN w/ ORIGINAL SIGNED CALLIGRAPHY, US $142 – Picture 4

KARL FORSBERG BERLING ROMAN TYPEFACE TYPE DESIGN w/ ORIGINAL SIGNED CALLIGRAPHY, US $142 – Picture 5

Karl Forsberg Berling Roman Typeface Type Design W/ Original Signed Calligraphy

US $142

Concord, Massachusetts, United States
Jan 30th

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Title: Berling Antikva Author: Forsberg Karl-Erik Offering: an exceptional specimen of Karl-Erik Forsberg's first book of typeface designs, enriched with an elegant calligraphy presentation in English for Robert Hunter Middleton on the inner side of the upper wrapper, facing the title page. Middleton [1898-1985], the distinguished American type designer, graphic designer and fine press printer, became internationally known for his 1923-41 design contributions to the Eusebius typeface family for Ludlow Typograph Company, a notable modern adaptation of Nicolas Jenson's Roman serif letter design. Edition: Lund, Sweden, Berlingska Stilgjuteriet (Berling Type Foundry), in Swedish, never translated into English, the first and only edition, displaying 1951-52 style variants, the first book on Berling typefaces, the book design by Forsberg, hand-set in Berling font, printed in black except for headings, first initials and highlighted words in red, 1952 issue date-foot of the lower side; one of twenty five books selected for the 1952 Swedish Book Arts Exhibition at the Nationalmuseum, Stockholm. Date: 1952 Presentation: done by Forsberg in a Berling Antiqua style in pen & gray ink, five short balanced lines on the inner side of the upper wrapper, facing the title page; "To / Hunter Middleton / with compliments / from / Karl-Erik Forsberg." Availability: Rare, even an ordinary example is exceptionally difficult to obtain. A comprehensive worldwide institution search finds holdings only in Denmark and Sweden. There are no known institutional holdings in the United States. Forsberg seldom signed copies of his books. Pagination: Confirmed complete, 16 pages with twelve pages of facing texts in different styles and sizes, spanning 6-60p, some with alphabets and numerals, illustrated with two rear tables. Format: Publisher's beige wrappers with red & black letters, octavo sewn with beige cord in a three stab-holes saddle binding. Size: 245 x 164 mm (9.65 x 6.46 inches). Background: Nicolas Jenson [1420-80] created his finely cut, harmonious Roman typeface for "De Evangelica Praeparatione" by Eusebius in 1470. Centuries after, his work was used as the principal model for creating modern Roman alphabets, first by William Morris with Gold (1890), then by Bruce Rogers with Centaur (1915), and then by Bruce Rogers' close friend, Ernst Detterer who created Nicolas Jenson (renamed Eusebius) with Robert Hunter Middleton. Detterer started work on the Nicolas Jenson for Ludlow in 1923 and hired Middleton (his former pupil at the Art Institute of Chicago) to assist. Middleton created Nicolas Jenson Italic for Ludlow in 1929, followed by the Bold, Bold Italic, and Roman Open series. In 1937 the type family was renamed Eusebius and it was completed under Middleton's direction in 1941. Berling Antikva: designed for the Swedish language and later adapted for English, its finely balanced serif style epitomizes modern Nordic letter forms. An old style roman, particularly useful for books, journals and text applications, it has higher contrast than most old style typefaces but retains the classic features of inclined and blunt serifs, diminutive x-height, and ascenders taller than the height of capital letters. Weights were added in 1958. It was posthumously updated for digital use in 2004 (by Orjan Nordling and Frederik Andersson). The alphabet is Forsberg's best known typeface and was sold to the Berling Foundry in 1945. Several sketches, including an early one from 1944 [Sten G. Lindberg] are preserved in their archives. Karl-Erik Forsberg [1914-95]: Sweden's grand master of the book arts, born in Munso, Sweden, trained in typography and calligraphy (at the School for Book Crafts, Sweden and the Akademie fur Graphische Kunste und Buchgewerbe, Leipzig (1938–41)), and also as a compositor at the Gewerbeschule, Basel (1946-47). Artistic director for Almqvist Wiksell (1942-49), printers for Uppsalla University and for publishers, P. A. Norstedt & Soner (Collins) from 1950 where he succeeded Akke Kumlien. Forsberg created several other widely used typefaces, including Lunda and Carolus, as well as logos for Volvo, Swedish Radio, the Royal Library, the City of Stockholm, and the University of Stockholm. Reference: Lindegren, ABC of Lettering and Printing Types; Caxton Club, Robert Hunter Middleton, the man and his letters. Condition: Good: Detail: Pages: clean; a gentle light crease at the top outer corner; the gutter with some handling wear, a slight pleated creasing at the foot and pleated creasing at the crown. Covers: light scattered soiling; upper side with a gentle light crease at the top corner, spine with slight handling wear. Binding: solid and reliable; cord between center and top stab holes has slack in the closed position; when book is opened, cord is tight and true. Subjects: TYPEFACE FORMS ROMAN SERIF INDIVIDUAL FAMILY ALPHABET NUMERALS STYLE VARIANTS CATALOG EPHEMERA SWEDEN MODERN 20TH CENTURY TYPOGRAPHY CALLIGRAPHY GRAPHIC INDUSTRIAL DESIGN FONTS BOOK ARTS MODERNIST NORDIC SCANDINAVIAN SWEDISH LETTERING PENMANSHIP HANDWRITING RENAISSANCE EARLY ITALIAN CHANCERY CLERK SCRIPT VERBUM BERLING NOVA TYPOPHILE TYPE DESIGNERS BERTRAM GROSVENOR GOODHUE AKKE KUMLIEN ORJAN NORDLING VIDAR KARL ERIK FORSBERG ARCHIVES UPPSALA UNIVERSITY FREDERIK ANDERSSON NICHOLAS JENSON HERBERT ERIK LINDEGREN ELLEGAARD FREDERIKSEN KERSTIN ANCKERS BO BERNDAL SVEN HOGLIND VERA JOHNSSON JAN OLOV ENCHAGE LEIF FRIMANN ANISDAHL ERKKI RUUHINEN HANNU PALAASMA BENT ROHDE GUN LARSEN ERNST F. DETTERER ROBERT HUNTER MIDDLETON WIEBKING THOMAS BEWICK ENGRAVINGS RUDOLF KOCH F.H.E. SCHNEIDLER EMIL RUDOLF WEISS HERMANN ZAPF W.A. DWIGGINS GEORGE SALTER RAY DABOLL JAMES HAYES WILLIAM MORRIS BRUCE ROGERS EDWARD JOHNSON PRINTERS PAUL DUENSING JOSEPH GRAVES VICTOR HAMMER GIOVANNI MARDERSTEIG Business Policies: 1. I Sell: only special items 2. Price: is steeply discounted 3. Accurate Condition Report: A detailed, fact based summary of condition is provided 4. Multiple Images: are offered, taken using only natural light, with editing strictly limited to cropping 5. Guarantee: Offerings are authenticated and guaranteed to be as described 6. Returns: Buyer is welcome to make a return for a refund. It is necessary the return complies with seller's return instructions, which follow standard trade and shipper practices 7. Packing: Purchases are packed with foresight and care, to ensure easy unpacking and safe arrival 8. Shipping Price: Complimentary for delivery addresses in the Continental United States 9. Prompt Handling of Orders. I ship within 2 business days after payment verification. A notice will be sent that includes the estimated delivery date 10. Inquiries & Requests: Seller will promptly reply, if not answered in description or terms of sale 11. State Sales Tax: If required to be assessed on your online purchase, the sales tax cost will be added to your invoice. Sales tax is not included in the purchase price or shipping cost 12. International Buyers: are welcomed. Shipping cost is the weight based shipping fee with tracking, to guarantee package can be traced through Customs and won't be left in an unsecured area. Price can be verified online with the shipping service website. All other shipping costs are paid by seller. Payment is in American dollars. Documentation for importation is fully completed. The declared value is the purchase price. When a translation of key terms is possible and will speed importation, it will be done. Taxes and fees assessed on a purchase are not included in the purchase price or shipping price. 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Condition

Used :

An item that has been used previously. The item may have some signs of cosmetic wear, but is fully operational and functions as intended. This item may be a floor model or store return that has been used. See the seller’s listing for full details and description of any imperfections.

Seller Notes

“Good: Pages: clean; a gentle light crease at the top outer corner; the gutter with some handling wear, a slight pleated creasing at the foot and pleated creasing at the crown. / Covers: light scattered soiling; upper side with a gentle light crease at the top corner, spine with slight handling wear. / Binding: solid and reliable; cord between center and top stab holes has slack in the closed position; when book is opened, cord is tight and true.”