Coakley, J.F. THE TYPOGRAPHY OF SYRIAC: A HISTORICAL CATALOGUE OF PRINTING TYPES, 1537-1958.
New Castle, Delaware and London Oak Knoll Press and The British Library 2006 7 x 10 inches hardcover 272 pages Syriac, a dialect of the ancient Aramaic language, has a remarkable Christian literature spanning a thousand years from the fourth to the thirteenth century, including important versions of the Bible. It remains the liturgical language of several churches in the Middle East, India, and the west, and 'Modern Syriac' is a vernacular still in use today. It is no wonder that this language has a long and rich printing history. The challenge of conveying the beautiful cursive Syriac script, in one or another of its three varieties, was taken up by many well-known type-designers in the letterpress era, from Robert Granjon in the sixteenth century to the Monotype and Linotype corporations in the twentieth, as well as by many lesser-known ones. This study records and abundantly illustrates no fewer than 129 different Syriac types, using archival documents, type-specimens, and the often scattered evidence of the print itself. The Typography of Syriac will be of interest not only to scholars of Middle Eastern languages and scripts but also to all historians of type and printing.
J. F. Coakley is Senior Lecturer in the Department of Near Eastern Languages and Civilizations, and on the staff of Houghton Library, at Harvard University. His private press, the Jericho Press, occasionally makes use of Syriac and other exotic types. Price: $ 75.00
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Order nr. 91843
Stoddard, Roger E. A LIBRARY-KEEPER'S BUSINESS.
New Castle, DE Oak Knoll Press 2002 8vo. cloth 498 pages First edition. Roger Stoddard is a highly respected librarian and author. As Head of Rare Books at Harvard University's famed Houghton Library, he has gained a lifetime of unique experiences. In a series of insightful essays and commentaries, this quiet scholars' scholar shares his work of forty years at one of the great epicenters of power and learning. A beautifully-written memoir, Stoddard's work will be enjoyed by anyone who loves the world of books. One will find his reaction to working with such giants as William A. Jackson and Lawrence C. Worth and a host of other notables. The author shares his insights from the perspective of a young student evolving into one of the foremost librarians in America. Beautifully illustrated with many rare photos, this book should be read by all those who love books and the unique people and institutions that lovingly care for them. Edited by Carol Z. Rothkopf and prefaced by Stephen Weissman. Illustrated. Price: $ 85.00
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Order nr. 65491