Engraver, communicator of content

In the hierarchy of the international typographic canon, engraved lettering has not received the acknowledgement it deserves. This article amends the international typographic canon to include the engraved letter through demonstrating how engraved lettering has significantly influenced the evolution of typographic form. By examining four historical specimens of engraved printing, the author explains how engravers utilized materials and craft-oriented opportunities to deliver content that current trends in typography have all but forgotten. Four important works of engraved lettering will be discussed: Het Groote Tafereel der Dwaasheid/The Great Mirror of Folly (1720?), A New Book of Cyphers (1726), George Bickham’s The Museum of Arts: or, The Curious Repository (1745?) and The Lincoln Crest & Monogram Album (c.late 1800s).