Letterform Archive
@letterformarchive
A nonprofit center for inspiration, education, publishing, and community in lettering, typography, and graphic design. We post items from our collection of over 100,000 objects. Visit, take a class, buy a book:
We're looking for an Art Director to shape the visual identity of our trade art-book publishing program. The role will be onsite at Letterform Archive in San Francisco. Read more and apply: jobs.gusto.com/postings/let... #BookDesign #ArtDirector #DesignJobs
Ermeler, C. F. (Calligrapher), Lale, J. D. (Engraver), Collection De Soixante-Sept Modèles d' Écritures…, Paris, 1818. oa.letterformarchive.org/item?workID=... One of many writing manuals in the Online Archive: oa.letterformarchive.org?dims=Collect... #Calligraphy #19thCentury #EngravedBooks
We spent the weekend at #LetterWest in Midvale, Utah where we ran into Hayley Francis (www.typeaffiliated.com/about-2), one of the Archive’s first visitors. She tells us how the tour was a key part of her early career as a lettering artist.
Today and tomorrow are your last chances to see GOOD LUCK 2026, a celebration of Lunar New Year co-curated by Jen Dao (姚逸雯) and Sherry Xu Chou (徐雪俐). We’re open 11am–6pm. letterformarchive.org/visit/#on-view
Coming to our Reading Room gallery, April 9 to 26: Tristram Shandy, The First Modern Book, curated by @debbiemillman.bsky.social. Learn more and plan your visit: letterformarchive.org/visit/#on-view
This is a celebration of courageous leaders and creative minds across the US who harness the transformative power of curiosity to address today’s most pressing problems and shape cultural conversations. See Rob among the other honorees: www.eamesinstitute.org/curious-100/...
We’re proud to share that Letterform Archive’s founder and curator, Rob Saunders, was selected by the Eames Institute as one of their Curious 100!
See Red Women’s Workshop, Capitalism Also Depends on Domestic Labor screen print, London, 1975 In 1974, a group of feminist artists founded the See Red Women’s Workshop to address gender issues such as capitalism’s reliance on unpaid homekeeping and childrearing. #IWD #InternationalWomensDay
Featuring work from these brilliant folks who are on Bluesky: @christophniemann.bsky.social @abcdinamo.bsky.social @ganzeer.bsky.social @guimenga.bsky.social
To mark our 10th anniversary we teamed up with COLLINS to create 100 Tens: 50 interpretations of the number 1 from the Archive, paired with 50 contributions from invited designers. Now you can see them all in one place on our blog: letterformarchive.org/news/100-ten... #100Tens #LetterformArchive
Yes! This was a popular French sign painter’s effect at the turn of the century. 1. oa.letterformarchive.org/item?workID=... 2. letterformarchive.org/shop/lettres...
Among other things, Esther (André’s daughter) sold us this incredible unfinished manuscript that serves as an excellent illustration of the steps in the process.
Join us in San Francisco on March 14 for an unforgettable party to celebrate the Archive turning ten. Expect great music, drinks, creative activities, and inspiration. Discounted early bird tickets are going fast. RSVP by February 1 to grab yours: letterformarchive.org/live/ #LetterformLive
We’re honored to hold hundreds of original lettering sketches and inkings, including early (1970s–80s) logos and lettering, and his ambigram artwork for Dan Brown’s novel, Angels & Demons. We will share more soon.
On January 1, we lost a master of the ambigram (words expertly drawn so they read the same when turned upside down). In 2022, John Langdon donated his primary archive to us. #JohnLangdon #Ambigrams #Lettering
Thank you @ebbooksellers.bsky.social for stocking our stationery!
Marget Larsen, Joseph Magnin holiday box, 1963. One of two gift boxes in our collection from the hip San Francisco mid-century department store, Joseph Magnin. #MargetLarsen #JosephMagnin #Typography #Packaging #Ampersand #MidcenturyModern #VintageChristmas
“The series drew me in—a row of colorful spines with a hint at the hand-drawn variety that awaits you on the covers. … Every little tome charms. While the books are a regular fixture in Czech households, they are rarely seen in the US. I knew we had to bring some home to the Archive.” — @stewf.com
Tezzo Suzuki Calendars have arrived from Japan! Order now to get yours before 2026. letterformarchive.org/shop/tezzo-s... #TezzoSuzuki #Calendars #Lettering #Typography #Numbers
Reminds us of the neon sign paintings by our friend Jim Parkinson who passed away earlier this year.
Vera Evstafieva, Cyrillic calligraphy, Cambridgeshire, 2021 Gift of @infonta.bsky.social. #calligraphy #VeraEvstafieva #lettering #typography #graphicdesign #script #handlettering
Linear-Antiqua ad/specimen, Ludwig & Mayer, Das Plakat, 1912. (Typeface by Richard Ludwig, 1911 fontsinuse.com/typefaces/23...) Source: iaddb.org?query=search...
With in-depth research from sign painter Morgane Côme and dozens of rare alphabet plates, it’s an essential reference and delightful guide to the fashionable letterforms that defined the classic French streetscape.
Our final batch of 100 Tens features contributions from this brilliant bundle of designers: Lucas Sharp Matthijs Herzberg @herzberg.bsky.social Nolan Pelletier @nolanpelletier.bsky.social Craig Frazier Oded Ezer Christoph Niemann @christophniemann.bsky.social Petra Dočekalová Susan Kare…
We continue rolling through 100 Tens to celebrate 10 years of Letterform Archive. This group includes contributions from: James Goggin @practise.bsky.social Jean-Benoit Levy Jennifer Morla John Stevens Tezzo Suzuki Juan Villanueva Julien Priez @boogypaper.bsky.social #100Tens
