The International Journal of Typographics

CONDITION:

Some wear and toning on cover and spine. Pages are clean with minimal tears or folds. Some natural toning of the paper.

U&lc was a visual publication launched for graphic designers by the International Typeface Corporation, under the design supervision of noted type designer Herb Lubalin. ITC was issuing new fonts in the 1970s to meet the new creative demands in advertising and graphic design. The publication was a subtle spec book as well as a design showcase.

Type designers were heroes in U&lc, but so were their inspirations—early, ornate designs and hand lettering from the 18th century onward, and the designers of classic fonts. One early issue documented the first alphabet from 2000 BC and others presented gems of printing, paper, and design history.

ITC was started in 1970 during the second generation of typesetting, when computers and film projection systems were used instead of metal fonts in fixed sizes. Type design had more latitude, and the fusion of illustration, typography, and graphic design was a hallmark of the 1970s and 80s.

Lubalin was U&lc’s art director from its launch in 1974 until his death in 1981. The experimental, expressive typography continued until 1999 when U&lc ceased publication. Guest designers in the 80s and 90s included Milton Glaser, Paul Davis, Walter Bernard, Carin Goldberg, and many others.

U&lc was printed on newsprint, and the spines of some issues show a band of sun discoloration, but the paper overall is in very good condition considering the age. These copies have been stored with controlled humidity and temperature.

Yes, you can find reproductions of these glorious graphic pages online, but you’ll miss the impact of a tabloid’s size with 11-1/2 x 15-inch pages—which means 23-inch wide spreads.

========

IMHO: Like a masterclass in type design. Several excellent articles by graphic design authors like Steven Heller, John D. Berry, Margaret Richardson and others.

From Alex Haley's blog.fonts.com

U&lc ceased print publication in the fall of 1999. Over its almost 27 years in hardcopy form, it inspired, informed and delighted readers. In the process, U&lc won over 100 awards for design and typographic excellence from the AIGA, Society of Publication Designers, Type Directors Club, and many other prestigious organizations.

U&lc’s tenure was marked by powerful – sometimes brash and always stirring – typographic design. The publication bristled with life and energy. The graphic design community – in addition to illustrators, photographers and calligraphers – eagerly anticipated each issue. However, even though U&lc was celebrated for its strength and dynamism, it was also fragile.

U&lc was dependent upon the understanding and financial support of someone who truly understood the value of the publication. Aaron Burns, one of the co-founders of ITC and the genius behind U&lc, was that person. Burns was also a savvy and gifted marketer. Decades before terms like “pragmatic marketing” and “buyer persona profiles” became popular, he understood that the best way to market a product or service was to reach out in an engaging and personal way to the ultimate consumers of those products and services. ITC licensed typeface designs to font providers – but Burns knew that his ultimate customers were graphic designers. Burns also knew that not all good marketing efforts can be directly linked to bottom line profits. At over one million dollars a year (in 1970s and 1980s money) U&lc was expensive to produce – and its advertising sales didn’t come close to paying for the publication. Burns, however, understood the true business value of U&lc and was fond of saying, “We don’t make money with U&lc – we make it because of U&lc.”

When Burns sold ITC in the late 1980s, its new owners presented themselves as smart business people. Maybe they were, but they were clueless about the value of U&lc. All they saw were its costs – and diligently sought to eliminate them. Over the next few years, this led to reducing the publication’s page count, then to downsizing from U&lc robust tabloid dimensions to a modest 8.5 X 11 inches, and ultimately to the cessation of publication.

U&lc was a vehicle to announce new ITC typefaces and showcase old ones, in addition to serving as a palette for virtuoso typography from the likes of Herb Lubalin, B. Martin Pedersen, Ellen Shapiro, Roger Black, Push Pin Studio, Pentagram and Why Not Associates, just to name a few. U&lc rejoiced in exceptional typographic design. 

=============

Publisher: International Typeface Corporation

Condition: Some wear and toning on cover and spine. Pages are clean with minimal tears or folds. Some natural toning of the paper

Please see and examine all pictures for details, they are considered part of the description 

 

Items are sold “AS IS” and NO RETURNS unless otherwise listed with conditions 

 

We used recycled boxes to help keep shipping rates as low as possible, we will always try to use suitable boxes for your item, but may have company logos, writings, or markings. 

  

CHECK OUT OUR STORE, Burman's Basement, FOR MANY UNIQUE TREASURES, WE ARE HAPPY TO COMBINE SHIPPING WHEN POSSIBLE