A good place to start is the with Typographic Triumvirate.

Faz,

As mentioned by Tiffany, the Triumvirate of books is a good beginning. You might also consider telling everyone what aspects of typography interest you most. Type design? History of letterforms? Proper usage of type? Technical development?, etc. We may be able to then suggest some books which are directed to your specific interest. At any rate, Welcome to Typophile!

ChrisL

History of type from the Mesapotania to now if possible.thanks

“The Story of Writing” by Andrew Robinson,

ChrisL

Another good one is:

“Type and Typography” by Phil Baines and Andrew Haslam

ChrisL

thanks chris

Any book that covers too large a span of time is more than likely to not give you the depth you really need. I’d avoid books like that if what you are hoping for is any amount of depth.

theres one pulished in i think 1999 and one in 1995. theres a new one coming out in
Jan 2007. are they the same book or are they kind of updated tahn the previous one. thanks.

sorry chris i mean the book the story of writing.

sorry chris i mean the book the story of writing.

Faz,

The only difference is that the 1999 version is paperback—and perhaps therefore a bit cheaper :-) I have the paperback version. I am sure either is fine.

The 2007 version may have some minor update but probably not a big change.

ChrisL

PS: To answer Tiffany’s concern about depth, the back of the book contains a suggested reading list to give you more depth if you get hooked on the subject (as many of us here are). I thought you were looking for an overview to get you started. There are thousands of years of material to cover.

A couple of my favorites (and less likely to be mentioned than the excellent Elements of Typographic Style):

Letters of Credit — Walter Tracy
The Form of the Book — Jan Tschichold

>The Form of the Book — Jan Tschichold

This is a great book—I looked at it at a library—but it is out of print and 2nd hand copies cost over $100 :(

Always keep your eyes open at used book stores: good books on type/typography are’t exactly big sellers or frequent finds, so often they’re insanely expensive, but I found my used copy of The Form of the Book (and in excelent condition) for $10. As for the original query, early on I found Chappell/Bringhurst’s A Short History of the Printed Word quite educational (like The Form of the Book, also published by Hartley & Marks).

thanks all, see what i can get my hands on.

Next to Bringhurst’s Elements of Typographic Style I can recommend the First Principles of Typography by Stanley Morrison.

Regards,
Artur

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new release at www.ourtype.com : Parry and Parry Grotesque

karen cheng: designing type

great book!!!

found a list on http://www.patricialillie.com/OBooklist.html

how can people not mention:
Stop Stealing Sheep & Find Out How Type Works: Eric Spiekermann
and
Typography: Ambrose & Harris

very good!!!

The Logo, Font and Lettering Bible - Leslie Cabarga.

I have read the Stop Stealing Sheep and Type and Typography book. Thank you all for posting.

Hi
I have the following recommendations - to have a thoroughly rounded introduction to typography (first three form the Typographic Triumvirate):

Elements of Typographic Style, Robert Bringhurst (3rd Ed.)
Letters of Credit, Walter Tracy.
Anatomy of a Typeface, Alexander Lawson

+

Short History of the Printed Word, Chappell & BRINGHURST (Rev ed.) - brilliant intro’ to the history of type
The Complete Manual of Typography, James Felici (2003) - good accompaniment to ’Elements’.
Making & Breaking The Grid: A Layout Design Workshop, Timothy Samara (2003) – good intro’ to grids
Type & Typography, Andrew Haslam & Phil Baines - well rounded book with invaluable glossaries.

I have more suggestions – just shout if you’d like them.
But, if I had to recommend just one it would be the very first text - Elements of Typographic Style.

Thankyou :) Very much appreciated.