A small collection of books and ephemera mainly by or about
Hermann Zapf (calligrapher and type designer, 1918-2015), featuring an unusual
gathering of some of his earliest published work, fine copies of his two
celebrated typographical albums of the 1960s, and a collection of letters
including a number of autographs.
1. BAUMANN (Hans) Bergbauenweihnacht.
Ludwig Voggenreiter Verlag, Potsdam, n.d. [1940]. Oblong 8vo. 15cm. Pp. 35.
Printed in red and black. 9 woodcuts by Ernst Dombrowski. ‘Die Blätter wurden
geschreiben von Hermann Zapf’. Orig. wrappers. A nice copy. S15. SOLD
For some photographs see my blog post of 14/2/18.
2. ____ Das heimliche
Haus. Ludwig Voggenreiter Verlag, Potsdam, n.d. [1939]. 8vo. 23cm. Pp. 24
printed in black and red from Zapf’s calligraphy, with 6 woodcuts by Ernst
Dombrowski. Inscr. by the author. Orig. printed wrappers. V.g. Box S13. SOLD
3. ____ Die Morgenfrühe.
Ludwig Voggenreiter Verlag, Potsdam, 1939. Sm.8vo. 19cm. Pp. [64].
‘Geschreiben von Hermann Zapf im Haus zum Fürsteneck, Frankfurt am Main 1939’.
Orig. wrappers. Box S13. SOLD
For some photographs see my blog post of 14/2/18.
4. BRAHMS (Johannes) Vier
ernste Gesänge, Opus 121. Maximilian-Gesellschaft, Berlin, 1939. 270/300
copies. 4to. 30cm. Pp. [34]. Printed in black and red ‘nach einer Handschrift
von Hermann Zapf’. Illustrated on p.213 of Erichson & Dreyfus, eds. ABC-Zapf, 1989. Begun in Nuremberg in
1937 and finished in Frankfurt the following year. Orig. Japanese paper
binding. V.g. Blue box S13. £75
5. BROMER BOOKSELLERS Inc. Catalogue
66: Ars calligraphica et typographica. Boston, n.d. 4to. 159 entries,
illustrated. Five Zapf items, including a deluxe Feder und Stichel and Das Blumen ABC, 1962. Orig. decorative
wrappers. B8. SOLD
6. Calligraphie et
Typographie de Hermann Zapf. Exposition Bibliothéque Albert I. Bruxelles,
1962. 8vo. 24cm. Pp. [41]. Numerous colour plates. 170 entries. Optima printed
by Ludwig Oehms. Cloth wrapper. Box S13. SOLD
7. CARNEGIE INSTITUTE OF TECHNOLOGY [Announcement for a] Seminar on Book Design to be given by the
eminent European type designer Hermann Zapf, A.W.Mellon Distinguished Visiting
Professor, September 20 to November 2, 1960. [Pittsburgh, 1960]. Landscape
8vo. 18cm. Pp. [3] printed in black and red. B5. SOLD
8. Die zeitmässe
Schrift. Studienhefte für Schrift und Formgestaltung. [Magazine for
Lettering Design and Script]. Hefte
39-49, October 1936 – April 1939. 11 issues, 30cm, bound (with wrappers) in
two volumes, qtr. cloth, patterned paper boards, extremities worn. Book labels
of Will Carter and Sebastian Carter. S16. £130
Founded in 1928 by Rudolf Blanckertz as the publishing
platform of his Berlin Schriftmuseum (whose collections were later acquired by
the Gutenberg Museum in Mainz).
Sixty-four numbers were published in all, 1928-43. Articles historical
and practical, richly illustrated, some in English. Issue no. 40, January 1937,
p.22, features a half-page reproduction of the work of the ‘Schüler Hermann
Zapf’.
9. ____ Heft 54. Juli, 1940. 30cm. Pp. 20. Orig.
printed wrappers. Including on pp.16-17 ‘Zwei Notenhandscriften [see above,
items 1 & 4] von Hermann Zapf’ by Paul Koch. Box S13. SOLD
10. ERICHSON (Knut) & John DREYFUS, Eds. ABC-XYZapf. Fünfzig Jahre Alphabet Design.
Gesammelte Beiträge über Fachliches und Persönliches für Hwermann Zapf. Bund Deutscher Buchkünstler, Wynkyn de Worde
Society, Offenbach & London, 1989. 4to. 28cm. Pp. 254. Numerous illusts.
Many contributions in English, by Will Carter, John Dreyfus, Jerry Kelly, Hans
Schmoller et al. Orig. cloth. As new. S9. £45
11. Fine Print: A review
for the arts of the book, 11:4, October 1984. 28cm. This issue includes
‘The Book Typography of Hermann Zapf’ by Jerry Kelly and Kit Currie, pp.164-66,
183. Orig. wrappers. B1. £5
12. Fritz Kredel,
woodcutter and book illustrator. Hermann Zapf, calligrapoher and type designer.
A joint exhibition. The Cooper Union Museum, NY, 1951. Oblong 8vo. 14cm.
Pp. [16]. Wire-stitched without wrappers. Some differential fading. The
exhibition which introduced Zapf’s work to the US. Box S13. SOLD
13. FÜRSTENECK (Werkstatt Haus zum). Gesangbuch für die Jugend. Herausgegeben vom Württembergischen
evangelischen Landesverband für Kindergottesdienst und Sonntagschule in
Stuttgart. Kommilionsverlag: Holland & Josenhans, Stuttgart, 1938.
Oblong 8vo. 11cm. Pp. [xii, c.250]. Printed in black and red. Paul Koch’s music
types. Decorative borders by Kurt Vollmer. Orig. coarse linen boards. Inner
joints tender. Good. S14. SOLD
No direct connection with Zapf but a songbook typical of the
work of Paul Koch’s Werkstatt which Zapf joined in the Spring of 1938. Printed
in Frankfurt by August Osterreith.
14. GÄFGEN (K.) Das
Druckerzeichen. Jahresgabe des Graphischen Bundes Hamburg E.V. und des
Graphischen Bundes E.V.,Hannover, Hamburg, 1952. 8vo. Pp. [32]. 40
reproductions of printers’ marks. Printed by Stempel. Fine coat of arms design
by Zapf to cover. Orig. wrappers. Sewn. Box S13. SOLD
15. Gutenberg-Preis der
Stadt Mainz und der Gutenberg-Gesellschaft verliehen an Hermann Zapf,
Darmstadt, am 24.Juni 1974. Gutenberg-Gesellschaft Kleine Druck no. 97,
1975. 8vo. 23cm. Pp. 40. Texts by Giovanni Mardersteig and HZ. ‘Bibliographie
Hermann Zapf’ compiled by G.K.Schauer, pp.23-39. Printed by Stempel. Orig.
wrappers. Box S13. £8
16. HERDER (Johann Gottfried) Bekentnisse zur Humanität. Privatdruck der D. Stempel AG, Frankfurt
am Main, 1948. 407/500 copies. 8vo. 21cm. Pp. [i], 87. Printed in black and
blue. Designed by Zapf. Orig. boards. V.g. S15. SOLD
17. Hermann Zapf. Calligrapher,
type-designer and typographer. An exhibition. The Contemporary Arts Center,
Cincinnati Art Museum, 1960-61. Sm.8vo. 18cm. Pp. [64]. Numerous illusts, some
in colour. Evidently designed by Zapf. Orig. wrappers. Slight corner wear. £8
18. HUXLEY HOUSE Typographers. [Specimens of Palatino,
Michaelangelo and Sistina]. 216 East 45th Street, New York, n.d.
[c.1960]. La. 4to. 32cm. Pp. [13]. Wire-stitched without wrappers. One
horizontal fold. Together with two loose bromide prints showing 72pt Michaelangelo.
Good. S13. SOLD
19. KELLY (Jerry) & David PANKOW, Eds. Manuale Zapficum. Typographical arrangements
of words by and about the work of Hermann Zapf and Gudrun Zapf von Hesse. Set
in typefaces by both; in honor of their ninetieth birthdays. Cary Graphic
Arts Press, Rochester, NY, 2008. One of 100 copies only, printed in black and
red on Hahnemühle paper, following the style of the Manuales. 4to. 31cm. Pp. [49]. Orig. boards. Excellent. S8. £175
20. KOCH (Paul) Notenschreibbüchlein.
Eine Anweilung zum Notenschreiben. Zweite Auflage. Foreword by Hermann
Zapf. Mösseler Verlag, Wolfenbüttel, 1953. Oblong 8vo. Pp. [32] printed in
black and red in Rudolf Koch’s Jessen-Schrift. Practice sheets in pocket at
end. Orig. imitation parchment. Excellent. First published in 1939. S15. £25
21. LÜBBECKE (F.) Haus
zum Fürsteneck. Offprint from Der
Burgwart, 41.Jahrgang, 1940. 4to. 31cm. Pp. 6. Illusts. Orig. wrappers. A
little worn. Laid in is a photocopy of a drawing of the house. It has been
annotated by Zapf showing where Paul Koch’s workshop and studios were situated.
Together with a copy of an aerial photograph showing the site completely destroyed
by Allied bombing on 22 March 1944. Orange box S13. SOLD
22. Monotype Newsletter
93: Hermann Zapf, November 1972. 20cm. Pp.12. Featuring Melior, Optima and
Sistina. Orig. semi-stiff boards. Box S13. £6
23. OEHMS (Ludwig) Schwarze
Kunst Farbig. Eine Druckerei im Wandel der Technik…Einführung von Hermann Zapf.
Bei Hermann Emig, Buchhändler, Amorbach im Odenwald, 1989. 4to. 30cm. Pp. 100.
Numerous typographic illusts. Orig. cloth. D.w. Excellent. S19. £10
History of the printing firm, 1913-88.
24. Rudolf Koch /
Hermann Zapf. Austellungskatalog 30. Der Stadtbibliothek, Nürnberg, 1963.
Squ. 8vo. 17cm. Pp.12. Plates. Designed by Zapf. Orig. wrappers. SOLD
25. SCHAUER (G.K.) Typographie
der Mitte. Schriftgiesserei D. Stempel AG, 1954. 8vo. 21cm. Pp. 28. Set in
Palatino and Aldus-Buchschrift. Orig wrappers. Sewn. Box S13. SOLD
26. ____ Ed. Gutenbergs
Kunst im deutschen Buch, 1900-1975. Austellung zum 75jährigen Jubiläum des
Gutenberg-Museums und der Gutenberg-Gesellschaft. Mainz, 1976. 8vo. 21cm.
Pp.82. 180 entries. Nicely illustrated with eight double-page spread
half-tones. Designed by Zapf. Set in Optima. Orig. wrappers. Excellent.
B2. SOLD
27. Scripsit, 11:3,
1987. Journal of the Washington Calligraphers Guild. 28cm. Pp.24. Printed
wrappers. This issue is largely devoted to John Prestianni’s article, ‘Hermann
Zapf: A biographical portrait’, pp.3-18. B1. £6
28. SCHNACK (Anton) Das
Fränkische Jahr. Stempel for the Fränkische Bibliophilengesellschaft, 1951.
199/300 copies printed. 8vo. 23cm. Pp. 135. Set in Gilgengart and printed in
black and red. Orig. cloth. Red leather gilt lettering piece. S15. SOLD
29. SEMMLER (Erika) Ed. Von
Art und Brauch. Spielzeug aus Wald und Wiese. Potsdam: Ludwig Voggenreiter
Verlag, n.d. [c.1938]. Sm. 4to. 23cm. Pp. 35. Pp. 6-30 consist of charming
colour lithographed illustrations by Erna Piffl of natural objects from wood
and meadow and the toys and decorations which can be made from them. The brief
accompanying rhymes [and the cover art?] are from Zapf’s calligraphy. Orig.
wrappers somewhat stained and worn. Arbeitsblätter der Reichsfrauenführung,
heft 2. Box S13. £18
30. SHAKESPEARE (William) The
Complete Sonnets. Sylvan Press, Wisbech, 1955. Ltd. ed., numbered by hand.
4to. 30cm. Pp. [iii, 79]. Set in Frankfurt by Stempel and printed in Wisbech by
Balding & Mansell. The first use in Britain of Palatino. Excellent. S13.
£50
31. STEMPEL (D.) Schriftgiesserei. Almanach der Letterkunst 1951. Frankfurt am Main, 1951. 8vo. 21cm.
Pp. [115]. Printed in black and colours, each verso displaying a different
typeface (HZ’s designs well to the fore). Designed by Zapf and Gotthard de
Beauclair. Printed in the Hausdruckerei. Orig. qtr. Cloth, printed boards. S16. SOLD
32. ____. Die Schrift im
Buch. Aldus-Buchschrift und Palatino [Die Garamond] in ihrer Verwendung im Werksatz. Frankfurt am Main, n.d. [c.1955].
2 vols. 8vo. 21cm. Pp. [32]; [20]. Specimen text pages. Orig. wrappers. V.g.
B5. SOLD
33. ____, FUNDICION TIPOGRAFICA, Catalogue of Types / Catalogo de Tipos. Frankfurt am Main, n.d.
[c.1965]. 4to. 30cm. Pp. [40]. Printed in black and colours. Paperback. Largely
devoted to HZ typefaces. Together with four leaflets, specimens of Optima,
Palatino and Melior. Box S13. SOLD
34. ZAPF (Gudrun) Von Hesse, Bindings, Handwritten Books, Typefaces, Examples of Lettering and
Drawings. Mark Batty, West New York, NY, 2002. One of 80 special copies
including six printed specimens of Gudrun Zapf’s work in a card portfolio. 4to.
29cm. Pp. 222. Profusely illustrated in colour. Signed by the artist. Orig.
cloth. Slipcase. As new. S19. £225
35. ZAPF (Hermann) Three ALs, fifteen TLs and a number of TL
sent as faxes, 1986-2012, together with twelve printed New Year greetings,
mostly signed, for 1968, 1996-2009, and a small number of other cards and
keepsakes, many signed.
The recipient of these letters is Gerald Cinamon, b.1930, book
designer, formerly Chief Designer, Penguin Books. They fall broadly into three
consecutive series: those relating to Zapf’s contribution to an issue of the Monotype Recorder commemorating Hans
Schmoller, edited by Cinamon (only
Zapf’s last letter present here); letters concerning Cinamon’s biography Rudolf Koch (2000), culminating in a
notable exchange, 1999-2000, in which Zapf’s provision of a foreword is made
conditional on changes to the text relating to Koch’s attitude to the coming to
power of the National Socialists in 1933; and letters relating to the research
and possible German publication of Cinamon’s book, German graphic designers during the Hitler period: biographical and
bibliographical references, which was eventually published online.
In a separate file are offered 1) a copy of a detailed memorandum by Cinamon concerning the
exchange referred to above, TS, 9pp; 2) the text of a brief talk he gave on
Zapf in 2009; 3) notes for his talk on Rudolf Koch delivered to the Double
Crown Club in 2008; 4) photocopy of an exhibition catalogue, March 1939, of the
work of the Werkstatt Haus zum Fürsteneck where Zapf was employed for a time before
the war; and various photocopies of
articles, news cuttings, etc., relating to Zapf and his work. SOLD
36. ____ Alphabet
Stories. A chronicle of technical developments. Mergenthaler Edition, Cary Graphic Arts Press,
Bad Homburg, Rochester, NY, 2007. 4to. 28cm. Pp. 151. Numerous illusts, many in
colour. Orig. cloth. As new. S3. £45
The latest and fullest of Zapf’s autobiographical texts. First
use of Palatino Nova and Palatino Sans.
37. ____ The Fine Art of
Letters. The Work of Hermann Zapf exhibited at The Grolier Club. New York,
2000. 4to. 29cm. Pp. 95. C.65 colour plates. Orig. cloth. As new. S4. SOLD
38. ____ Fraktur &
Schwabacher. An essay, translated & with an introduction & notes, by R[ichard].
H[ealey[. The Right Hand Press,
Bournemouth, 2009. One of 50 copies printed on the hand press in black, red and
blue. Pp. [12]. The German text set in Gilgengart, Zapf’s first type design.
Sewn. Card slipcase. Box S13. SOLD
39. ____ Hermann Zapf
and His Design Philosophy. Selected articles on calligraphy and contemporary
developments in type design with…a complete list of his typefaces. Introduction
by Carl Zahn. Society of Typographic Arts, Chicago, 1987. 4to. 31cm. Pp.
[iv], 255. Colour plates. Type illusts. Bibliography. Orig. cloth. D.w.
Excellent. S19. £65
40. ____ Kleine
Autobiographie in Lettern. Der Druckspeigel Typographische Beilage 11,
1956. La. 8vo. 25cm. Printed in black, red and blue. Numerous type examples.
Pp. [16]. Orig. wrappers. Sewn. Excellent.
Box S13. £18
41. ____ Kreatives
Schreiben. Anleitungen und Alphabete. Ein neuartiges Instruktionsbuch zum
Erlernen künstlerischer Schrift. Rotring, n.p., 1985. Oblong 8vo. 16cm. Pp.
[32]. Numerous illusts. Paperback. B2. £5
42. ____ Manuale
typographicum. 100 typographical arrangements with considerations about types,
typography and the art of printing selected from past and present, printed in
eighteen languages. Z-Presse, Frankfurt & New York, 1968. 38/800 copies
of the German edition. Signed by HZ. 4to. 31cm. 4 leaves of prelims, 119 leaves
foliated in blind + colophon. Printed in black and red. Orig. qtr. Japanese
vellum, cloth sides. Slipcase. Excellent. S14. SOLD
43. ____ [On mailing envelope:] Principles of Freedom / Designed by…for Scott Paper Company. N.p.,
n.d. [c.1960]. Broadsheet, 476 x 324mm, printed in red and black, displaying
quotation from the Book of Common Prayer: ‘Grant us grace fearlessly to contend
against evil…’ V.g. in orig. mailing envelope, a little worn. S13. SOLD
44. ____ Thoughts &
Sketches, 1941-1945. Kelly-Winterton Press, New York, 2015. Oblong 8vo. Pp.
[xv], 75 leaves of facs., [16]. Cloth. Spine label. New. £45
The first complete facsimile of Zapf’s three wartime sketch
books containing exquisitely finished calligraphy, drawing and painting done
during his military service as a cartographer stationed in occupied France. He
wrote that it was on the strength of these sketch books that he was offered his
position as art director at Stempel after the war. With a foreword by Jonathan
Hoefler, an introduction by Jerry Kelly, and translations into English of the
German texts.
45. ____ Variations
typographiques. Recherches illustrées par 78 exemples. Avant propos de Charles
Peignot. Hermann, Paris, 1965. 270/300 copies of the French edition, signed
by Zapf. 4to. 31cm. Pp. [x], 78 fols., pp. [7]. Orig. qtr. Japanese vellum,
grey boards, d.w. Inscr. on front f.e.p. Excellent. S19. £175
46. ____ Reproduction in the form of a greetings card of his
watercolour composition of a bouquet of flowers, etc. made in 1945, and used as
frontispiece in Alphabet Stories, 2007.
22 x 16cm. Signed in pencil, ‘Hermann Zapf / 1945’. £20
‘At the end of the war I was a prisoner in a French hospital.
I was treated very well and could even keep my drawing equipment…I designed a
watercolour composition of a small bouquet of flowers, which was a symbolic
representation of the circumstances in Germany. A broken branch and brown
withered oak leaves represented the past and the destruction of the war. The
bee was for diligence, and two little ants in the left corner showed an
eagerness to work. The spring flowers stood for a new beginning...’ (p.18)
Miscellaneous
new stock
47. BARKER (Nicolas) The
Oxford University Press and the Spread of Learning. An illustrated history,
1478-1978. Oxford: At the Clarendon Press, repr. 1978. 4to. 30cm. Pp. xiii,
69 + numerous plates. Orig.cloth. Slightly frayed d.w. £25
48. The Book Collector.
Ed. By Nicolas Barker [later James Fergusson], 12:2 – 66:4, Summer 1963 –
Winter 2017. 219 issues, together with three special numbers, cumulative index to
vols 1-10, annual indexes to vols 12-65. Orig. wrappers. A fine, unbroken run. £650
49. THOROWGOOD [(W.)] & Co. Specimen of Printing Types. Fann Street, London. N.d. [Price list
dated 1st Jan. 1840]. 8vo. 25cm. 2 leaves of prelims (title, price
list) & 173 leaves of specimens (5 folding) printed one side only. Some
marginal worming. One leaf frayed and grubby, otherwise generally clean and
bright with all the tissue guards intact. Orig. brown cloth, a little soiled
and worn, rebacked. SOLD
A rare specimen from the Fann Street letter foundry. Includes
Robert Thorne’s originals of the types reissued by Stephenson Blake as
Thorowgood Italic and Thorne Shaded.
For some photographs see my blog post of 24/1/18.
50. ULLMER (Fredk.) Ltd. [Printers’ suppliers] Specimens of Wood Type. London: 29, 30,
31 Great Saffron Hill, EC1. N.d. [Price list dated 1st Sept. 1924].
4to. 29cm. Pp. [iv], 124 + 5 folding leaves of two-colour types, ornaments,
etc. A few marginal tears. Orig. printed wrappers, a little worn. Good and
sound. Rubber stamp of the typefounders Stevens, Shanks. SOLD
For some photographs see my blog post of 26/1/18.
51. WHITTINGTON PRESS. CRAIG (Edward) William Nicholson’s An Alphabet. An introduction to the reprint from the original woodblocks. Andoversford,
1978. 274/300 copies printed. 4to. 34cm. Pp. [iv], 12. 4pp loose insert of
photos showing the printing of the blocks. Orig. wrappers. Sewn. Orange box
S13. £40
52. WOLPE (Berthold) Some
book decorations by Berthold Wolpe, discovered in a collection of line blocks
belonging to his friend Vivian Ridler. [With an introduction and notes]. S.P.Tuohy,
The Perpetua Press, Oxford, 2018. Ltd. to 250 copies. Cr.8vo. Pp. 40. 28
plates, one folding. Set in ‘Monotype’ Bell and printed letterpress by
Evergreen Press. Bound in full cloth by Ludlow Bookbinders. New. £38
This book takes its origin from a collection of line blocks
found among the Oxford University Printer Vivian Ridler’s extensive collections
of his friend Berthold Wolpe’s work. It features sets of decorations made for
two books dating from early in Wolpe’s long career in the Faber production
department: Walter de la Mare’s Collected
Poems (1942) and a cookery book by F. Le Mesurier, Sauces, French and English (1947). Adding a number of new details
to the established record, a concise introduction explores the background to
the drawings and traces the formation in the late 1930s and early 1940s of the
personal and professional network, based on the London publishing house, which
sustained a lasting friendship in printing and book production.
For some photographs see my blog post of 13/2/18.
