Monotype Imaging has established the Monotype Foundation, a non-profit company dedicated to the worldwide advancement of the typographic arts.
“The time is right to develop a vehicle to support the typographic community,” said Robert M. Givens, president and chief executive officer of Monotype Imaging Inc. “We formed the Monotype Foundation to fund a variety of typographic initiatives, such as educational scholarships and research programs. The foundation is also a labor of love, one that involves connecting in a meaningful way with those who care most about type – graphic communicators, students, designers and type enthusiasts.”
The initial plan for raising funds is to create opportunities for the public to own pieces of typographic history, according to Allan Haley, director of words and letters at Monotype Imaging. “We’ll be reproducing original type drawings from well-known designers as limited edition, collectible works of art. We’ll also be including signed companion pieces, created by some of today’s world-class designers and educators, to complement each historic piece.”
Eric Gill’s original drawing of the Gill Sans® Bold Extra Condensed typeface has been selected as the first limited edition print. Gill designed the typeface in 1937 for The Monotype Corporation Ltd. near London. The reproduction features the alphabet in both uppercase and lowercase letters along with numerals and punctuation marks. Gill’s corrections and pencil titling and initials are also visible, just as in the original drawing, which is stored in Monotype Imaging’s archives at the company’s U.K. office near London.
The giclée digital fine art printing process was used to produce each piece on archival quality matte paper. “The giclée technique is amazing – the reproduction looks just like the original,” Haley said.
The 500 hand-numbered reproductions will be offered unframed and will fit standard 18 x 24-inch frames. Each limited edition print will be accompanied by a commentary by Michael Harvey, the British type designer, educator and author who began his career as a letter carver more than 50 years ago after reading Gill’s autobiography. In 2001, Harvey was honored by Queen Elizabeth II when he became a Member of the Order of the British Empire for his contributions in art. Each reproduction will also include an article about Gill by Sebastian Carter, the British designer, fine printer and writer on typography. The Gill article first appeared in a 1990 edition of the “Monotype Recorder,” a journal published by Monotype through much of the twentieth century.
Availability of the limited edition packages is expected in May through the Monotype Imaging Web site, www.monotypeimaging.com. Each package will be offered at $200 (about 100 GPB) and will contain one limited edition print and the two companion pieces. Proceeds will directly fund educational scholarships, research programs, seminars and projects focused on the typographic arts. The foundation will also provide grants to educational institutions, libraries and museums dedicated to the typographic arts.
A print from the Gill limited edition will be unveiled at events in the U.K. and the U.S., including a showing at Chicago’s Newberry Library on May 21. A brief presentation about the Monotype Foundation will follow the 10 a.m. J. Ben Lieberman Memorial Lecture, sponsored annually by the American Printing History Association. The lecture and a discussion to follow are open to the public.
About The Monotype Foundation
The Monotype Foundation is a nonprofit organization registered in England and Wales as a company limited by guarantee (no. 4909976). The foundation’s purpose is to fund various initiatives worldwide that further the advancement of the typographic arts. Targeted programs include educational scholarships, research grants, design projects and seminars. The Monotype Foundation supports students, typographers, educational institutions, libraries, museums and other programs and facilities dedicated to the typographic arts.
This article was last modified on January 10, 2022
This article was first published on April 20, 2005
Commenting is easier and faster when you're logged in!
