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I love discovering the handwriting of my most cherished writers. And I like to delude myself into thinking that a writer’s autograph reveals top-secret, mind-blowing info, only to me. Usually that exclusive info conveniently coincides with my preconceived notions about the personality of the author, thereby proving that my stellar investigative work is nothing if not accurate and well-informed.

Does the signature slant to the right? If so, I bet that author would have been my friend were I to live at their time. Does it slant to the left? Well, they would have wanted to be my friend too, but it might have required more of an effort on their part. Especially with regard to their predilection toward derby hats. See how it works?

I am also interested in the legibility and crispness of the script — or if it’s not script at all. Are there flourishes or extreme angles? If so, then I’m pretty sure you like Picasso. And absinthe.

It must be stated that I’ve never read one of those books on handwriting analysis, but I have no doubt it would become an instant obsession of mine. And I’d probably take creative license in my interpretations of preferred authors.

In the meantime, I’ve decided to display a little series of authors’ signatures. There are so many I love, so… please do not judge the order or omissions… There will be many more to come.

Now then, Part One of my Signature Series:

The lesser of two mind-numbing evils…

I’m not sure which inflicts more of a blow to my head/heart today:

1. the grumbling, tumbling Stock Market due to the House’s rejection of the Bailout plan, or

2. the sight of overstimulating holiday cards already going on display at my local Paper Source store

(*Note: yes, the 1st and 3rd cards are letterpress. Ah!)

I wish my journal entries looked this cool…

Treats & Treasures is a site maintained by a fantastically creative Dutch woman named Marieke Berghuis Leewens, who now lives in Paris. She has an eye for the intrinsically elegant and quirky, and she glowingly succeeds at doing something I obsess over, which is to combine unlikely elements and grant them the appearance of genuine synchronicity. Unexpected artistic combinations and collages of ephemera and sketches make me beyond happy. Here are some reasons why:

Ah, d’être écolière en France…!

If you’ve never checked out Agence Eureka’s site, I would strongly encourage you to do so. Like, pronto. And, yes, I know I know I know: the vintage ads, cahiers, texts, cards, etc. are in French; however, that does not mean that you cannot fully appreciate their magnificence. Please trust me. I would never lead you astray. Je vous promets. And to prove it: here are some of my favorite word- and type-related images (of which there are gajillions) from AE’s Flickr album, which you may access HERE.

Now, if you are not currently en route to Agence Eureka’s site or Flickr page, I don’t want to be mean, but… I think you might want to go see your primary care physician. Because something is clearly impeding your judgment. See how I look out for you?

Happy weekend!

Letterpressing, one month at a time.

As I’ve previously mentioned, I kinda like the letterpress. And the letterpressers. And the letterpressed. Particularly when the letterpressers provide me 12 months-worth of letterpressed awesomeness. Like those at Ilee Papergoods, who definitely know their way around a freakin’ letterpress. Here’s the proof:

Let’s get a closer look at my favorite month’s letterpressed brilliance, shall we?

Holy crizzap. That’s pretty much more letterpressing fabulosity than I can handle right now. So, before I have a coronary, let’s check out what the Lizard Press letterpressers have in store for us in 2009:

Good grief. Those lizards have a lot of freakin’ nerve creating such letterpressed elegance. That being said, I still need more, please, lizard letterpresser. Maybe just one month’s supply of letterpressing so I don’t fall over from overstimulation, please?

OK, seriously? If you’re going to slam a Jacques-Cousteau’ed letterpressed quote on me, the VERY least you could do is offer some type of warning. I think I’m hyperventilating. Please hold…

…

…

OK. Breathe in, breathe out. Wax on, wax off. OK. I think I’m OK now. Let’s move on. Whew. Stupid lizard-heads.

Alright, next up: Delphine Press’s 12-month letterpressed calendar:

Gee, thanks, Delphine. You tease me with a letterpressed owl and then you don’t allow me to offer my readers large-sized images of the letterpressed cuteness?! WHAT GIVES?! Not cool, Delphine. Not cool at all. So, to compensate, here’s another (tiny) animal image:

Sheesh. Enough from Delphine. Let’s move onto Green Chair Press before I throw a letter block:

Yay for largeness! Whoever said “size doesn’t matter” is a lame-o and clearly has never seen a letterpressed calendar image. Ok, close-up now:

Ah! It also contains encouraging letterpressed quotes!!!! Holy h*ll. Who would have thought that green chairs could be so creative and verbose? I didn’t even think they had hands. I’m starting to see spots, so I better move onto the next one. Umm, this next one is from the Paper Source. And you already know how I feel about my Mecca/Church, etc.. So… watch your back, readers… tread lightly… 

I’m sorry, but are those GIRAFFES?!? How the F am I supposed to handle THAT, huh?!?!? Talk about needing a warning before seeing such ridiculosity…!!!!! Before I drool all over my keyboard, thereby making it ill-equipped to type anything further, here’s a close-up of October:

CAN. NOT. BREATHE.

…

…

Whoa. OK. I have my paper bag for hyperventilating… I think I’ll be OK. But let’s move on, just in case. The following are some lovely, simplistic little letterpressed designs from Sugar Paper, who also kindly offers little easels for proper display of the letterpressing:

I’m ready for my close-up, please:

I love that little easel. Maybe I just like the word “easel.” It has the word “ease” in it, after all, and that’s always comforting, isn’t it? It is. But enough. One more letterpressed calendar offering for you. This one, from Manifesto Letterpress, is actually an image of their 2008 calendar, but they inform us that the 2009 version will be very similar (minus the date changes, duh). Check it out, please. It’s definitely one of my favorites:

Can you even freakin’ STAND it?!?!? I’m particularly a fan of the roller skate. Though, I do feel that any of these could serve as Monopoly pieces, don’t you think? And I don’t even like Monopoly… but I’ve ALWAYS enjoyed its pseudo-pewter pieces. OK, our final close-up for this post:

I hope this post is not the cause of any cardiac arrests, fainting spells, hyperventilations, vertigo inflictions, etc..

Happy letterpressing…

Falling slowly…

In celebration of our official foray into Fall, I give you these swirly, falling leaves, courtesy of Kite Tail Press.

Here in New England, the leaves are just beginning to change color — the greens to the ochres, the ochres to muted sepias… Gazing around, the brisk breeze lapping against my cheek, I can feel the reds and oranges on their way in for a visit. I’ll pay homage to them once they arrive. Promise.

The ILT Bonk.

I would like to take this opportunity to kiss (metaphorically) the serif-esque feet of Mister Johno, who maintains one of my absolute favorite blogs, called I Love Typography. Yesterday, in his highly overstimulating post entitled “Czech Type,” Johno kindly suggested that his many many readers sneak a peek at my humble offerings of Words&Eggs. And now, ever since the inclusion of my blog on his list of “Sunday Links,” my stats can only be described as: BONKERS! And I ain’t talkin’ ’bout the 1980’s fruit-chewy candy, either. Though, let’s face it: those things RULED. Especially when they offered cool, plastic Transformer knock-off watches for minimal cash + UPC symbols. BONK!

Colbert may bump, but Johno bonks!

You may be familiar with Stephen Colbert and his unshakable pride for the sudden increase of his guests’ popularity and fame following an appearance on his show, “The Colbert Report.” Colbert bashfully (ha) refers to this effect as “The Colbert Bump”. Well, I would argue that TypeMaster Johno’s effect is no different: the moment TMJ immortalizes another blog in type on “I Love Typography,” that blog’s popularity swells to the point of bonky explosiveness. Example: earlier today, my Words&Eggs was listed as one of WordPress’s Fastest Growing Blogs! That is pure insanity.

It is, therefore, with great pleasure that I deem the popularity-increasing capacity of TypeMaster Johno and “I Love Typography” as: The ILT Bonk.

You heard it here first.

Thank you so so much for the bonk, TMJ! (note: by referring to you as “TMJ,” I do not mean to imply that you have TemporoMandibular Joint disorder. Just to clarify.)

Here’s to future bonking… and generic Tranformers watches.

BONK*!

(*please bonk responsibly)

 

http://rpc.technorati.com/rpc/ping

Too legit, too legit to quit…!

Please, Hammer, don’t hurt me.

MC Hammer

Victor Hammer (1882-1967) moved from his native Vienna to Florence in 1922 to start his career in the printing business, opening and running his first printing workshop. Seven years later, he would move his business, now called Stamperia del Santuccio, to another area of Florence. It was here that he would print his first book: Milton’s “Samson Agonistes” (1931). After a three-year stint as a professor back in Vienna, Hammer emigrated to the USA for a teaching position at Wells College in Aurora, NY, in 1939. He enjoyed an enriching career at Wells College, and eventually moved to Lexinton, KY, in 1948. From that point on, Hammer published several books, including a volume of Hölderlin’s poems, set in his lovely American Uncial.

We may all bow and curtsy before the divine Victor Hammer, who has bestowed the following fonts upon us: 

Hammer Unziale™ (1921), Samson (1931), Pindar (1933), American Uncial (1943), Andromaque Uncial (1958).

If you just can’t get enough and you’re dying for further Hammerfication, here are some additional publications you may wish to consult: “The Forms of our Letters” (Lexington, 1958); Carolyn Hammer’s “Notes on the Stamperia del Santuccio” (Lexington, 1963); Carolyn Hammer’s “Victor Hammer. Artist and Craftsman” (Lexington, 1981).

Without further ado, some samples of the ubiquitous Uncial, to which my calligraphic hand is especially devoted:

 

Oops, a couple actual hammers got mixed up in there somehow. I’ll try to be more careful in future posts.

*The beautiful scroll above with gold print may be found (along with other scroll samples) HERE.

*Oh, and if you’re too legit to quit: MC HAMMER BLOG