Tree of Type

by Steven Heller · 20 comments

In 1937, on the 100th anniversary of the founding of The Bauer Type Foundry in 1837, the storied firm issued "Bauer's Family Tree of Printing Types." The beautifully illustrated and precisely lettered arbor may not be entirely accurate, history-wise, but it is a delightful way of learning about the lineage of type.

For your enjoyment, I reproduce the tree in parts and as a whole, as well as the text, which was set in in Elizabeth Roman and Italic. Just think how tall the tree would be today 75 years (if my math is correct) later.

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{ 5 trackbacks }

miaszösz
January 20, 2012 at 10:48 am
The tree of type
January 24, 2012 at 10:21 pm
Don Serifa » El árbol de los tipos
January 26, 2012 at 4:56 am
Bauer’s Family Tree of Printing Types « Sentence first
February 14, 2012 at 5:36 pm
Bauer’s Family Tree of Printing Types | clusterflock
February 15, 2012 at 1:09 pm

{ 15 comments… read them below or add one }

1 Danish Khan January 19, 2012 at 11:12 am

where is comic sans! or is it a bastard child?

2 Martha Campbell January 19, 2012 at 11:31 am

I would like to see a graphic design tree. Also a graphic designer tree!

3 Valerie Vago-Laurer January 19, 2012 at 11:33 am

Trust you to uncover another archival treasure, Steve. It's beautiful!

4 Mike January 19, 2012 at 12:06 pm

How excellent. I would happily pay for a poster of this.

5 Cindy January 19, 2012 at 12:15 pm

Is there a poster available?
 

6 Michael January 19, 2012 at 12:32 pm

"Just think how tall the tree would be today 75 years (if my math is correct) later."This sounds like a call to action to indeed produce an updated tree of type. I will get to work right away. 

7 Allan Bealy January 19, 2012 at 1:02 pm

pre-Helvetica!

8 Ann January 19, 2012 at 1:16 pm

Looks like "Fundición Tipográfica Neufville" owns the rights to Bauer Type Foundry items now. Alas, my Spanish is not proficient enough to suggest they publish a poster of this image - which would be immensly popular (at least with designers)!

9 Elias Werner January 19, 2012 at 3:00 pm

To those of you looking for a poster, a reproduction, though in German, can be purchased here: http://bit.ly/A5GBBD

10 Kevin Coleman January 19, 2012 at 7:06 pm

I can't find a way to ship to the US from their online form. I've contacted them in English and auf Deutsch to see if they'll add it to their options...

11 Fluah Left January 19, 2012 at 11:27 pm

Next to the tree, a mutt labeled "Comic Sans" has its hind leg elevated.

12 Swiss Kiki January 22, 2012 at 1:59 am

It does ship to the US (click on ''Versandkosten" to see the prices for shipping) but the site says it's sold out with no 'new offer' so it seems it's no longer available : ((  Hopefully they will carry it again if enough people request it. 

13 Brian Kolstad January 22, 2012 at 8:22 am

Futura. What else is there?

14 ana dora January 23, 2012 at 10:51 am

This is only the Anglo-American typography

15 Gina Galileo January 24, 2012 at 1:19 pm

Such a beautiful resource! I really do wish I could have one on my wall. Thank you for sharing!

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