John Fass' Collection of Frederic Goudy Ephemera

 1933: John Helps Print a Goudy Exhibition Catalog:

 

 Above:  1933 catalog with Goudy portrait printed by John Fass' Harbor Press (Digital underline)

 

Frederic Goudy is a godfather of American type design.  He created more than 120 typefaces, and became the most productive and celebrated type designers of the 20th century. 

Goudy operated the Village Press in Park Ridge, Illinois, with his wife Bertha Goudy.

This 1933 catalog was published by the American Institute of Graphic Arts. This organization had previously awarded John Fass five annual AIGA book awards, so they knew he could deliver the goods for their Goudy catalog. John continued receiving AIGA book awards.  By 1938 he win a total of 10 awards from the AIGA for books he designed and printed at the Harbor Press.

When John moved to New York City in 1923 the Goudys were living in New York's Forest Hills Gardens, a leafy community in Queens. In 1924 they moved to Marlborough-on-Hudson, New York, where they continued their Village Press.

 

  John Fass' Invitation to the 1933 Goudy Exhibition:

Above: Goudy's monogram  on John Fass' invitation to the opening of the 1933 Goudy exhibition

 

Above: John Fass' invitation to the 1933 Goudy exhibition

 

1932: The First Showing of Goudy's Franciscan Typeface: 

 

 Above: 1932 Christmas keepsake: The first showing of the Franciscan typeface

This Christmas keepsake was printed by Bertha Goudy as the first showing of the Franciscan typeface created by her husband.  Bertha was an important partner in the Goudy's Village Press. She cut type, set type, and bound books.  She became a first lady of American printers.

Frederic Goudy created this Franciscan typeface in 1932.  He sold the design to the Grabhorn Press of San Francisco, where Franciscan soon became the Grabhorn signature typeface. Bertha set the type for this carol as a gift to Dr. Louise Acres, who had been her family physician. 

 
1937: The First Showing of Goudy's Tory Typeface:

Above:  The first showing of Goudy's Tory typeface 

John Fass' collection of Goudy ephemera includes another "first showing" of Goudy type: the Tory typeface of 1937.

The Irish-Ulster Society created this printed pamphlet as a keepsake for guests at the society's annual dinner at New York's Hotel Commodore. The text presents glowing accolades for Goudy's contributions to the art of letterpress printing.

This publication's colophon indicates that these Goudy Tory types are "now first shown here." The text was written by Earl Emmons, and was set by Emmons at Goudy's Village Press. The paper was specially watermarked with a portrait of Mr. Goudy.

Goudy cast this typeface himself, and considered it to be one of his favorite designs. He named this face for Geoffroy Tory, an engraver in 16th century France.

 
 1935:  John Fass Helps Produce a Tribute to Frederic Goudy:

 

 Above: 1935 tribute to Frederic Goudy

 Frederic Goudy celebrated his 70th birthday in 1935. To commemorate the event, Paul Bennett authored a commemorative pamphlet titled But that's Goudy.  The pamphlet was printed by John Fass and his business partner Roland Wood, at their Harbor Press.

Goudy continued on, strong. Five years later, on Goudy's 75th birthday, Goudy was appointed a lecturer in type design at Syracuse University's school of journalism.  Goudy received honorary degrees from Syracuse University, and from the University of California and Mills College.

 

 1938: Jane Grabhorn's Tribute to Frederic Goudy:

 

 
 

Above: Jane Grabhorn plays with Frederic Goudy and his "hordes of panting disciples"

 Jane Grabhorn (Mrs. Robert Grabhorn) was an important partner in San Francisco's Grabhorn Press.  She was actively involved with editing, book binding, and management details. In 1937 she began printing little publications on a Grabhorn proof press, and published them with the name Jumbo Press.

Jane used her Jumbo Press to poke fun at her fellow fine-press printers. Her colleagues included the greatest craftsmen of the American private press, and any one of them was fair game for Jane's humorous satire.