Avant la lettre: le drôle de clin d'œil d'un caractère inconnu, précurseur de la typographie de fantaisie = an unknown, early smile ahead of fancy typography

Abstract

"A typeface which had surprisingly remained ignored until now has recently resurfaced at auctions' random, on two antique posters. It is a large, somewhat quirky 18th century character that was used in Flanders. It cant't be met in any specimen nor essay, although it may be considered predecessor in a lot of the graphic audacities that followed. While its design did not match any standard of the time, it allows to give evidence to the irruption of "fancy" faces in typography, when this hitherto conformist profession has been willing to concede to creative freedom, in order to meet the boom in advertising. Numerous rare and characteristic samples are reproduced in these pages, some for the first time -- scanned from originals. The type-specialist will improve his knowledge under unusual new lights. The amateur will appreciate those freaky trends like by reading a historical novel." from back cover.