In 1948, the world-renowned book designer Bruce Rogers wrote a brief
text that documented and illustrated his creation of the Centaur
typeface several decades earlier: The Centaur Types. The book was
privately printed by Rogers himself under the name of his design studio,
October House. This limited edition of the book was transferred to the
Purdue University Libraries at the time of his death along with his
other papers and books. Over the years remaining stock of the original
private printing has found its home in the Special Collections of the
Libraries, and although known as something of a collector's item by
those who are aware of the few copies in circulation, it is here
available to the general market for the first time in both paperback and
digital versions.
The Centaur Types is a fascinating book for several reasons: in the
designer's own words, we learn of the evolution of the typeface and of
his interest in the art and craft of creating type; it demonstrates
different and comparable typefaces, and gives examples of Centaur from
six to seventy-two point; and it stands as a fitting example of fine
bookmaking from one of the master book designers of the twentieth
century.