The Annotated Capital, by Lida Cardozo Kindersley

The Annotated Capital is about the evolution of the capital letterform. Its focus is unique, in that it both outlines the thinking behind the design and cutting of the classic Roman capital letterform and the philosophy that underpins it in the Cardozo Kindersley Workshop in Cambridge, England. The book explores each step in the dynamic process of drawing and cutting letterforms to create the recognisable Kindersley capital letter.

The Kindersley Roman capital has come down to the Workshop from the Rome of 2,000 years ago through those giants of the lettering tradition, Edward Johnston and his pupil Eric Gill, David Kindersley’s master. It appears on and in public and private buildings and artefacts, and in churchyards across the continents. It can be seen on street signs throughout Great Britain and the Commonwealth.

Since the 1940s, some sixty apprentices have been trained to carve the Roman alphabet in the Workshop, first by David during his lifetime, and later by Lida Lopes Cardozo – his apprentice, partner and widow. This book shows in detail David and Lida’s accumulated knowledge and how it is handed on to their apprentices. As well as training apprentices and running the Workshop, David and Lida have spread the word of lettercutting through their commissions, exhibitions, workshops and lectures.

Lida Cardozo Kindersley
Hardback
ISBN: 9780521197229
Price £35.00