The Typophiles, Inc.

03/10/2026

“You can’t get closer to Goudy than that” Frank Romano

This week we feature Spinach from Many Gardens, an informal book put together by the Typophiles as a birthday greeting for Frederic Goudy. The book was presented to him on his 70th birthday at the Amherst Club in New York on March 7. The publication is a unique collection of 22 “signatures” (pieces) written, designed, and printed by various contributors to celebrate Goudy’s genius for type design and friendship. For instance, the introduction to this rare edition written by Paul Bennett, was set in “one of Goudy’s most distinguished types at the time, temporarily called Goethe,” and published at Goudy’s Village Press, the oldest and most famous private press in America. The Romano Library has an original copy ( #33) of the publication, signed by Goudy for Albert Schiller. Enjoy this unique publication, and don’t miss the opportunity to see it the next time you visit the Museum.

12/11/2025

10/23/2025

Shani Avni's presentation at our 2024 Holiday luncheon.

Ismar David (1910–1996) was a prolific calligrapher, type designer, graphic designer, illustrator, architectural designer and educator. From the 1930s until ...

10/22/2025

https://www.instagram.com/p/DQCoDgHDjZ2/

Today!

08/28/2025

We were saddened to learn of the death on Monday 25th August of our former Librarian, James Mosley. After retiring in 2000, James maintained close links with St Bride Library and was a regular weekly visitor until the onset of the pandemic in 2020.

Born in 1935, James was, in his own words, “a proud Yorkshireman”, although he spent much of his working life in London. He joined St Bride Library as an assistant to William Turner Berry in 1956, becoming librarian two years later.

James was very much the architect of the library we have today. His passion for the history of the printed word and particularly the artefacts and machinery of letterpress enriched the collections with unique and irreplaceable materials, much of which was destined for destruction at the time of acquisition.

Our library catalogue lists over 75 works by James but these are just the tip of the iceberg; his contribution to our knowledge of printing and letterforms is incalculable. James’s lasting memorial is the library we have today.

08/28/2025

https://www.instagram.com/p/DN3bk_b3G36/?img_index=8&igsh=MTN2OWo0aTJrbGZ4ag==

08/27/2025

We are sad to report the passing of James Mosley, writer, teacher and former librarian of St Bride Printing Library. Without James it is hard to imagine that Commercial Classics, or Commercial Type, would exist in the form they do without his influence. For those not familiar with his life and work read Paul’s short piece in Eye Magazine

https://www.eyemagazine.com/feature/article/james-mosley-a-life-in-objects

He will be greatly missed.

06/27/2025

A tribute to the talented, prolific Jim Parkinson
1941 – 2025

The design world was saddened to hear of the passing of iconic type designer Jim Parkinson on June 26 in his hometown of Oakland, Calif. He was 83.

Jim’s distinctive lettering defined the visual identities of some of the world’s most recognizable publications. A master of both tradition and innovation, Parkinson was best known for his redesign of logos for Rolling Stone, Esquire and Fast Company, as well as blackletter nameplates for the San Francisco Chronicle and the Los Angeles Times. Over six decades, his work has shaped the tone and personality of editorial design across print media, while his fonts brought 19th-century flair into the digital age.
https://snd.org/a-tribute-to-the-talented-prolific-jim-parkinson/

06/24/2025

06/04/2025

To follow up our last talk.