MetaFilter posts tagged with typography and books

Books, book bindings, and the death of the book

the man of twists and turns — Wed, 15 Aug 2012 01:23:30 -0800

Ever since something was invented to replace it, people have been predicting the end of the book: The Death Of The Book Through The Ages Books (specifically, in codex form) contain so much more than text on a page. Folios ( making a comeback!) have instructions on folding. (via) Codices provide opportunities for unique art forms like paper marbling, poetry, cover design (Previously) (and competition) (via), illustrations, and have inspired paintings. Some people are still hand-making books. Used books can have a deep effect on the casual browser. You can go to school for rare books, but it is a good idea to get a sense of what makes rare books valuable. (via) Take a look, it's in a book ... bindery. Running out of storage room? Try your staircase. Some people struggle to get the books they desire, while other have too many. Not for the squeamish: For unwanted books, there is no heaven. (a sometimes controversial practice) If you read a lot, you may find yourself taking on attributes of fictional characters. Or getting out of a Brazilian prison. Previously: The Frantic Career of the Eyes many links via the paris review

Type specimen printed in author’s blood

joeclark — Wed, 18 Aug 2010 09:59:30 -0800

Fraktur mon amour: Ruud Linssen’s Book of War, Mortification and Love is a collection of “essays on voluntary suffering” that works as a specimen of the Fakir blackletter typeface issued by merry pranksters Underware. Bored already? Well, try this on for size: It’s “printed in the author’s blood.”

Good type feels good

Robot Johnny — Mon, 31 Jan 2005 08:42:27 -0800

Thinking with Type The online companion to the book of the same name offers a nice little online primer on the finer points of typography, including my favourite new online game: Dumb Quotes. Remember kids: only you can prevent poor kerning.

Four Stories

eustacescrubb — Sat, 11 Sep 2004 10:46:41 -0800

"I follow a dog chasing some invisible bird." Four Stories: Some of the most breathtaking woodcuts I've seen a good while illustrating four sparse but moving stories. After a decade of metafiction and Raygun typography, this letterpressed book of mythic narrative is refreshing, and inspiring.