BANKS (Colin) London's handwriting. The development of Edward Johnston's Underground Railway block-letter. [London:] London Transport Museum, 1994. [One of a limited edition of 160 copies]. Large folio. 510 x 373mm (size overall 55 x 41 cm). Pp. 50 printed on 225gsm Zerkall mouldmade paper by Libanus Press (letterpress) and Senecio Press (offset litho). Text set in New Johnston. Numerous illusts including reproductions of Johnston's original drawings and 17 pages of type specimens printed from original woodletter. Orig. blind-stamped red cloth, black cloth clamshell box, by Smith Settle. Fine. £450
Designed by Banks & Miles for the 60th anniversary of London Transport, this is as much a justification of New Johnston as a history of Johnston's original design. It would appear that only copies issued near the time of first publication were inscribed on the colophon with a number and statement of limitation. This copy has no inscription. A magnificent record of this most celebrated of proprietary typefaces.
