‘Type & Paper’ booklet – E. B. Eddy Paper Company, Carl Dair, 1946

Lydian, the typeface used on the cover of Type & Paper, was a popular calligraphic sans serif designed by Warren Chappell and released by American Type Founders (ATF) in 1938. Here Dair uses the alternate ‘A’, with a serif-like cross bar on top, to help fill the open space normally created by an ‘A’. Dair’s large brush lettered calligraphic ‘et’ ampersand is the only decorative element on the cover, it also harmonizes well with Lydian.

A double-page spread from Type & Paper. The five principal typefaces were first set in 12 point type and then enlarged six times to approximate 72 point. To create the effect of looking at the letters under a microscope Dair placed the letters within circles. Long before it was possible for designers to ‘zoom in’ on the type Dair mimicked the effect to demonstrate how the choice of paper could affect the final look of a printed typeface.