Mathieu Lommen, The book of books: 500 years of graphic innovation, 2012

This visual history brings together an extraordinary collection of books to illustrate a canon of more than five hundred years of Western book design. Beginning in 1471 with an edition printed by the influential Nicolas Jenson in Venice and ending in 2010 with a stylish design by Irma Boom, these exceptional and sometimes iconic work cover a broad range of genres: reference works and works of art, ‘machines for reading’ and picture books, prestigious collector’s items and affordable paperbacks. The story moves from the era when books were accessible only to a wealthy elite, through to the introduction of the first inexpensive editions of popular works, then on to the age of mechanization, when high-quality books could at last be mass-produced for a growing reading public, and beyond to the postmodern era, when restricted print runs and luxury presentation once again became marks of desirability. As well as changing tastes and evolving technology, the contributions made by printers, illustrators, typographers and graphic designers are highlighted throughout, showcasing the evolution of methods to guide readers through the text, the emergence of standard elements such as title pages and tables of contents, and the shifting interaction between typography, colour and images. Here is the work of the greatest printers of the hand-press period – Aldus Manutius, Christoffel Plantin, the Elzeviers, John Baskerville, Giambattista Bodoni – alongside books by trendsetting designers of the modern era – William Morris, El Lissitzky, Jan Tschichold, Paul Rand, Massin, Bruce Mau. Also featured are remarkable illustrated works by architects and artists such as Giovanni Battista Piranesi and Maria Sibylla Merian. Special attention is also given to printers’ manuals and type specimens, placing letterforms and printing techniques in a broader context, and charting the changing relationship between form and function, between legible clarity and decorative profusion. Even in today’s digital age, many designers and readers still feel strongly attracted to the printed book as an object of beauty and fascination. Lavishly illustrated throughout, this is an unmissable journey through time for everyone who loves books.