John Henry Nash was another prominent fine-press printer whom the Ludlow staff asked for advice on the new Jenson-style face. They were probably hoping to interest him in the Ludlow process, too, using their elegant design as a base. The highlighting is ours.
June 29, 1926.
447 Sansome Street
Mr. R. H. Middleton,
2322 Commonwealth Avenue,
Chicago, Illinois.
My dear Mr. Middleton:
This will acknowledge your letter of June 23rd, also the proof of the Jenson type which was received this morning under separate cover. I like the type very much, but would suggest that some of the letters be brought a little closer together.
I am wondering whether it would be possible to make some sort of an arrangement regarding this type before it is generally distributed. When The American Typefounders Company brought out the Bodoni, Cloister and Garamond types I was allowed the use of them for about two years before they were put on the market. If this could be done I would like to secure enough of the type to print an entire book, as it would then become apparent whether or not it was perfectly adaptable for bookmaking.
I will hope to hear from you again as to the possibilities in this connection.
Yours very truly,
By:
Librarian
July 14, 1926.
Chicago, Illinois,
Mr. John Henry Nash,
447 Sansome St.,
San Francisco, Calif.
My dear Mr. Nash:
This is to acknowledge your letter of June 29th, which was very happily received, because it reveals further your genuine interest in the Jenson type specimen recently submitted to you.
I have noted your comment regarding a closer fitting of certain letters; this is a simple arrangement which merely means trimming the matrices which are too wide. If possible, I would like to have you state just what combinations seem too widely fitted to you.
I am now going to unfold a fault which may or may not be considered as wrong to you. If you examine your specimen closely, this time with attention to its mechanical precision you will note that the effect of the entire font is to lean slightly to the right. This was done deliberately in the designing, since many of the Jenson characters seemed to be relieved from the rigid vertical by a slight deviation from it. However, when the effect obtained is compared with the original Jenson, it seems that the idea might have been over done.
To correct this means the recutting of several characters which are responsible for the slightly italic feeling. Personally I believe that the relief from the vertical lends a certain freedom to the type that is quite pleasing to the eye; but generally speaking, the fact might offer a chance for criticism, which, considering the accepted requirements of a roman type would be more of an obvious discovery than an intelligent conviction. Would you recommend such a revision as mentioned above?
Concerning your request for the use of the type before it is generally distributed, I am quite sure that this could be arranged and gladly. A book from your press in which this type design was used would amply repay for furnishing you with the material you need.
Very truly yours,
R. H. Middleton,
2322 Commonwealth Ave.,
Chicago, Ill.
July 27, 1926.
447 Sansome Street
Mr. R. H. Middleton,
2322 Commonwealth Avenue,
Chicago, Illinois.
My dear Mr. Middleton:
Your letter of the 14th was not answered sooner as I closed up my plant for two weeks while my entire force went away on vacations — I myself was here, but no correspondence or business was attended to during that time.
I am glad to know that you look with favor on my plan to use the type before it is generally distributed. I am a member of the faculty of the University of Oregon, and the head of their University Press. Once a year they bring out, under my supervision, a fine specimen of typography and I will shortly get to work on the publication for this year. It seems to me it would be a splendid opportunity to introduce your Jenson type in this manner. [ed. Was this ever done?]
The book will not be a large one — i.e., as to number of pages — and will be brought out in a limited edition of probably two hundred or two hundred and fifty copies. It will be presented to the libraries of the larger universities throughout the country, and to some of the best known collectors. You can see therefore, that it would be a fine chance to have the type introduced in this way, as it will reach the hands of the discriminating few. The book will not be for sale to anyone.
I will, require, I think, about three or four hundred pounds of the type, and one of the main considerations is that it would have to be here either in September or early October. I hope you will let me know what you can do in this connection.
With reference to the sloping tendency of the letters, I like the general effect so much, and any crudity or irregularity is so slight that I would not suggest a revision at this time.
Trusting to hear from you at your earliest convenience, I am
Yours very sincerely,
The originals of these letters are in the Middleton papers at the Newberry Library.