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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where is comic sans! or is it a bastard child?
I would like to see a graphic design tree. Also a graphic designer tree!
Trust you to uncover another archival treasure, Steve. It's beautiful!
How excellent. I would happily pay for a poster of this.
Is there a poster available?
"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.
pre-Helvetica!
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)!
To those of you looking for a poster, a reproduction, though in German, can be purchased here: http://bit.ly/A5GBBD
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...
Next to the tree, a mutt labeled "Comic Sans" has its hind leg elevated.
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.
Futura. What else is there?
This is only the Anglo-American typography
Such a beautiful resource! I really do wish I could have one on my wall. Thank you for sharing!