The Typewriter

A Graphic History
of the Beloved Machine

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The Typewriter

A Graphic History
of the Beloved Machine

150 years of history
a life-long obsession
three years in the making

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A richly illustrated book full of never-before published typewriter memorabilia, intriguing historical documents and entertaining anecdotes, The Typewriter: a Graphic History of the Beloved Machine is a beautiful ode to an all-but-obsolete creative companion.

Introduction

an excerpt

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The development of the typewriter aligns with creative industries such as industrial design, commercial art and advertising becoming mainstream, and a study of the graphics associated with the typewriter also offers a snapshot into trends in design and fashion. Documenting the ephemera and advertising of typewriting allows for an informative and beautiful history of design over the past 150 years.

Most of the print and paper artifacts reproduced in this book are from my own collection of ephemera. And as with any personal collection, the objects give some insight into the person doing the gathering.

As a graphic designer, I’m particularly interested in items that have typographic and graphical interest, that mark a particular time period with a recognizable style and that have creative merit through design elements such as colour, photography and layout.

As a publisher, I’m interested in the content of old advertising and how the copywriting — with its changing voice and tone — tells stories not only about a machine, but about us as a society.

As a woman, I recognize the advancements that women have achieved since the 19th century. We’ve come a long way in surmounting the rampant sexism that hindered women (and men) for so long.

Since its slow but certain end from the 1980s until now, the typewriter has been elevated to iconic status. Now experiencing a resurgence of appreciation (tinged with nostalgia) the typewriter is coveted once again: this time as a symbol of simpler times.

Janine Vangool

All in the details

The Typewriter book is 336 pages and a handsome size of 9 x 11 inches and it weighs in at nearly 4 pounds. There's a special uncoated section for a selection of ads from the 1880s-1890s plus an extra mini booklet insert on "How to be a Super Secretary" from the 1950s.

Filled with images and advertising spanning over a century, the graphic story of The Typewriter is presented in a unique way. Through the vintage ephemera, readers will discover the history of not only the machine, but the progression of society through very interesting times. From the industrial revolution to women entering the workforce, from one World War to another, from the home to the office, from collegiate life to Hollywood and pop culture...

The dark linen cloth spine of the book was inspired by the tweed on a typewriter case from 1956. This photo shows a book mockup; the actual book will have gold foil on the spine where the title and logo will be imprinted.

336 pages, hardcover

linen-wrapped spine with gold foil

mini booklet insert

over 900 images

Why Typewriters?

a personal connectioN

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When I was little, I happily tapped letters on my mother’s machine. I loved seeing thoughts become tangible, and marvelled in the satisfaction of seeing my words printed on the page. It was my first taste of both graphic design and publishing — topics that would become my profession and my passion. This simple ribbon tin purchased on eBay reignited my early obsession with the typewriter. In search of more artifacts and ephemera over the next decade, I collected from the rich, graphic history of the typewriter.