Tag Archives: 1940s

ZYZZYVA No. 100, cover exterior before binding, designed by Josh Korwin

ZYZZYVA No. 100

I have been very fortunate to be a part of the team at ZYZZYVA since taking on the redesign of the print journal and website a few years ago. Despite ZYZZYVA’s three-decades-long run, since I’m relatively late to the party, I luckily did not have to wait very long for a special milestone to come […]

Colby Poster Printing Co. (Still from 3 Union Shop)

Colby Poster Printing Mini-Documentary

Just had a chance to watch the beautiful 3 Union Shop, a short documentary about the Colby Poster Printing Company, written and co-directed by C. R. Stecyk III of Dogtown fame: I’ve been collecting Colby posters for a few years (they even had a role in inspiring some of my wedding collateral), and I had the […]

Duro-Decals-Pressure-Sensitive-Letters-Numbers-Box-close-up

Duro Decals Box o’ Typography

The Duro Decals brand, which still exists today, has been knocking out good, wholesome, sturdy display type and lettering (in decal, sign, and stencil form) since 1938. The Chicago-based company begat “Duro Dan,” their quirky advertising mascot, a sort of elvish, mustachioed gnome-like character that touted Duro’s wares during the middle of the 20th century. […]

Ludlow-Typographic-Influence-1931–1962-10

The Ludlow: Typographic Influence, 1931–1962

On Saturday, November 12, I gave a brief presentation at the International Printing Museum about a selection of typefaces that were designed by Robert Hunter Middleton for the Ludlow Typograph, a letterpress linecasting machine (for which we just so happen to be doing a Kickstarter Campaign). Focusing on the idea of “typographic influence,” I have […]