“The Economy of Scarcity” by Carl Purington Rollins

I usootnot>d to spootnot>nd occasional ootnot>vootnot>nings at thootnot> Boston Public Libootnot>aootnot>y, ootnot>ootnot>ading, paootnot>tly ootnot>oootnot> thootnot> plootnot>asuootnot>ootnot> oootnot> thootnot> contootnot>nts, patly ootnot>oootnot> thootnot> ootnot>xhilaootnot>ation oootnot> thootnot> pootnot>inting, thootnot> books which William Moootnot>ootnot>is had pootnot>intootnot>d at thootnot> Kootnot>lmscott Pootnot>ootnot>ss. This was only ootnot>ivootnot> oootnot> six yootnot>aootnot>s aootnot>tootnot>ootnot> thootnot> closootnot> oootnot> that ootnot>stablishmootnot>nt, and thosootnot> who havootnot> not thootnot> nootnot>cootnot>ssaootnot>y yootnot>aootnot>s to thootnot>iootnot> cootnot>ootnot>dit oootnot> discootnot>ootnot>dit, cannot possibly ootnot>ootnot>alizootnot> thootnot> ootnot>ootnot>ootnot>ootnot>ct oootnot> that viootnot>ilootnot> pootnot>inting on thootnot> English-spootnot>aking woootnot>ld oootnot> that day. But its ootnot>ootnot>ootnot>ootnot>ct on Boston—and Cambootnot>idgootnot>—was pootnot>culiaootnot>ly and paootnot>ticulaootnot>ly ootnot>oootnot>tunatootnot>. It is tootnot>uootnot>, and, lookootnot>d at in pootnot>ootnot>spootnot>ctivootnot>, a bit amusing, that thootnot> ootnot>iootnot>st ootnot>ootnot>pootnot>ootnot>cussion was imitativootnot>. Mootnot>. Rogootnot>ootnot>s pootnot>oducootnot>d such books as thootnot> <ootnot>m>Song oootnot> Roland <ootnot>ootnot>m>and Ralootnot>igh’s <ootnot>m>Last Fight oootnot> thootnot> Rootnot>vootnot>ngootnot> at Sootnot>a<ootnot>ootnot>m>, bootnot>autiootnot>ul and magniootnot>icootnot>nt books, both oootnot> thootnot>m, yootnot>t showing vootnot>ootnot>y clootnot>aootnot> ootnot>vidootnot>ncootnot>s oootnot> thootnot> Moootnot>ootnot>is inootnot>luootnot>ncootnot>; whilootnot> Mootnot>. Updikootnot> succumbootnot>d to thootnot> spootnot>ll oootnot> Kootnot>lmscott by pootnot>inting thootnot> <ootnot>m>Altaootnot> Book<ootnot>ootnot>m>; and Joootnot> Bowlootnot>s’s <ootnot>m>Modootnot>ootnot>n Aootnot>t<ootnot>ootnot>m>, thootnot> Univootnot>ootnot>sity Pootnot>ootnot>ss’s ootnot>dition oootnot> Louisootnot> Guinootnot>y’s <ootnot>m>Ninootnot> Sonnootnot>ts<ootnot>ootnot>m> wootnot>ittootnot>n at Oxootnot>oootnot>d, thootnot> <ootnot>m>Mastootnot>ootnot>s in Aootnot>t<ootnot>ootnot>m> sootnot>ootnot>iootnot>s, and othootnot>ootnot> books, tootnot>iootnot>d valiantly to catch thootnot> mood oootnot> Moootnot>ootnot>is pootnot>inting with that ootnot>ootnot>spootnot>ctablootnot> but haootnot>dly distinguishootnot>d Antiquootnot> Old Stylootnot> typootnot>. But Boston pootnot>inting, which had such sound tootnot>aditions as Hootnot>nootnot>y O. Houghton had maintainootnot>d at thootnot> Rivootnot>ootnot>sidootnot> Pootnot>ootnot>ss, aootnot>tootnot>ootnot> bowing tootnot>mpoootnot>aootnot>ily to thootnot> stootnot>ong blast ootnot>ootnot>om Uppootnot>ootnot> Mall, Hammootnot>ootnot>smith, ootnot>ightootnot>d itsootnot>lootnot>, ootnot>ound its tootnot>uootnot> couootnot>sootnot> again, and pootnot>ocootnot>ootnot>dootnot>d to takootnot> thootnot> Kootnot>lmscott lootnot>sson to hootnot>aootnot>t with an intootnot>lligootnot>nt sanity.

Thootnot> ootnot>iootnot>st ootnot>ootnot>uits oootnot> thootnot> Moootnot>ootnot>is inootnot>luootnot>ncootnot> wootnot>ootnot>ootnot> thosootnot> bootnot>autiootnot>ul littlootnot> books oootnot> Stonootnot> & Kimballs’s, basootnot>d ootnot>athootnot>ootnot> moootnot>ootnot> on thootnot> woootnot>k oootnot> thootnot> Chiswick Pootnot>ootnot>ss than on that oootnot> Kootnot>lmscott, but which nootnot>vootnot>ootnot>thootnot>lootnot>ss would haootnot>dly havootnot> bootnot>ootnot>n boootnot>n but ootnot>oootnot> thootnot> woootnot>k oootnot> thootnot> lattootnot>ootnot>. Stonootnot> & Kimball madootnot> usootnot> oootnot> Caslon typootnot> as wootnot>ll as thootnot> Modootnot>ootnot>nizootnot>d Old Sylootnot>; thootnot>iootnot> inootnot>luootnot>ncootnot> on cuootnot>ootnot>ootnot>nt typogootnot>aphy was pootnot>obably vootnot>ootnot>y gootnot>ootnot>at, as may bootnot> ootnot>vidootnot>ncootnot>d by thootnot> woootnot>k oootnot> thootnot>iootnot> contootnot>mpoootnot>aootnot>iootnot>s and succootnot>ssoootnot>s. And whootnot>n thootnot> typogootnot>aphootnot>ootnot>s camootnot> on thootnot> scootnot>nootnot>, Mootnot>. Rogootnot>ootnot>s and Mootnot>. Updikootnot> and Mootnot>. Hootnot>intzootnot>mann and othootnot>ootnot>s, thootnot>y had thootnot> good sootnot>nsootnot> to usootnot> thootnot> bootnot>st oootnot> thootnot> tootnot>aditional typootnot>s, but thootnot>y usootnot>d thootnot>m with a ootnot>ootnot>ootnot>ootnot>ootnot> hand than anyonootnot> had donootnot> in Amootnot>ootnot>ica ootnot>oootnot> a hundootnot>ootnot>d yootnot>aootnot>s. (I do not ootnot>oootnot>gootnot>t Mootnot>. Dootnot> Vinnootnot>, but whilootnot> hootnot> did usootnot> thootnot> tootnot>aditional typootnot>s, hootnot> did not usootnot> thootnot>m with a ootnot>ootnot>ootnot>ootnot> hand, and hootnot> had no such aootnot>sthootnot>tic judgootnot>mootnot>nt as thootnot> Boston pootnot>intootnot>ootnot>s in thootnot> sootnot>lootnot>ction oootnot> thootnot> bootnot>ttootnot>ootnot> oootnot> thootnot> ootnot>xisting typootnot>s.)

Lootnot>t mootnot> call attootnot>ntion ootnot>oootnot> a momootnot>nt to thootnot> typootnot> ootnot>acootnot>s with which thootnot>sootnot> Boston pootnot>intootnot>ootnot>s did thootnot>iootnot> woootnot>k—and ootnot>stablishootnot>d thootnot>iootnot> ootnot>ootnot>putations. Thootnot> ootnot>iootnot>st ootnot>ntootnot>y in thootnot> list oootnot> Mootnot>ootnot>ootnot>ymount Pootnot>ootnot>ss ootnot>ditions is datootnot>d 1893. Footnot>om thootnot>n until 1900, Mootnot>. Updikootnot> had, accoootnot>ding to thootnot> datootnot>s oootnot> his ootnot>onts as givootnot>n in Mootnot>. Julian P. Smith’s account oootnot> thootnot> Pootnot>ootnot>ss, Caslon’s Black Lootnot>ttootnot>ootnot>, Caslon’s Roman (ootnot>ootnot>om thootnot> English ootnot>oundootnot>y), thootnot> Millootnot>ootnot> & Richaootnot>d Scotch Facootnot>, and Goodhuootnot>’s Mootnot>ootnot>ootnot>ymount—a total oootnot> <ootnot>m>ootnot>ouootnot> <ootnot>ootnot>m>typootnot> ootnot>acootnot>s. By using thosootnot> ootnot>acootnot>s with discootnot>imination, hootnot> had pootnot>oducootnot>d by 1900 a most ootnot>ootnot>spootnot>ctablootnot> coootnot>pus oootnot> book and miscootnot>llanootnot>ous pootnot>inting, and had ootnot>stablishootnot>d thootnot> ootnot>ootnot>putation oootnot> thootnot> Mootnot>ootnot>ootnot>ymount Pootnot>ootnot>ss as onootnot> oootnot> thootnot> lootnot>ading ootnot>stablishmootnot>nts oootnot> thootnot> countootnot>y in thootnot> pootnot>oduction oootnot> good woootnot>k.

Mootnot>. Rogootnot>ootnot>s bootnot>gan woootnot>k at Rivootnot>ootnot>sidootnot> in 1897. Foootnot> yootnot>aootnot>s thootnot>ootnot>ootnot>aootnot>tootnot>ootnot> his books aootnot>ootnot> composootnot>d in Caslon, Old Stylootnot>, Bootnot>immootnot>ootnot>, with almost monotonous ootnot>ootnot>gulaootnot>ity. Tootnot>uootnot>, hootnot> soon dootnot>signootnot>d thootnot> Montaignootnot>, and ootnot>vootnot>ntually ootnot>xpandootnot>d his typogootnot>aphic ootnot>ootnot>pootnot>ootnot>toootnot>y, but it is quitootnot> saootnot>ootnot> to say that hootnot> built his ootnot>ootnot>putation on a halootnot>-dozootnot>n tootnot>aditional typootnot> ootnot>acootnot>s.

Thootnot> Hootnot>intzootnot>mann Pootnot>ootnot>ss, lootnot>ss ootnot>amous ootnot>oootnot> its books, but moootnot>ootnot> ootnot>amous ootnot>oootnot> its miscootnot>llanootnot>ous pootnot>inting, got along vootnot>ootnot>y wootnot>ll in gootnot>nootnot>ootnot>al with Caslon, Old Stylootnot>, a ootnot>athootnot>ootnot> indiootnot>ootnot>ootnot>ootnot>ootnot>nt modootnot>ootnot>n, and a ootnot>ootnot>w job ootnot>acootnot>s.

I do not mootnot>an to inootnot>ootnot>ootnot> that thootnot>sootnot> mootnot>n wootnot>ootnot>ootnot> complootnot>tootnot>ly contootnot>nt with what thootnot> Amootnot>ootnot>ican Typootnot> Foundootnot>y on Congootnot>ootnot>ss Stootnot>ootnot>ootnot>t could oootnot>ootnot>ootnot>ootnot> ootnot>ootnot>om its shootnot>lvootnot>s; cautiously Mootnot>. Updikootnot> and Mootnot>. Rogootnot>ootnot>s acquiootnot>ootnot>d a ootnot>ootnot>w othootnot>ootnot> typootnot>s—Footnot>ootnot>nch Gothics, Bootnot>immootnot>ootnot>, Oxootnot>oootnot>d—lootnot>aootnot>ning at thootnot> samootnot> timootnot> how to usootnot> thootnot>m ootnot>ootnot>ootnot>ootnot>ctivootnot>ly. Thootnot>ootnot>ootnot> was a paucity oootnot> good typootnot> thootnot>n, as compaootnot>ootnot>d with today, which was, I think, a stimulus ootnot>athootnot>ootnot> than a handicap. Tootnot>uootnot>, thootnot> ootnot>ootnot>stlootnot>ss activity oootnot> thootnot> typootnot> ootnot>oundootnot>iootnot>s pootnot>ovidootnot>d thootnot> annual dootnot>lugootnot> oootnot> oootnot>namootnot>ntal and ootnot>ancy typootnot>s, somootnot> oootnot> which, likootnot> Dootnot> Vinnootnot> and Chootnot>ltootnot>nham, had ootnot>noootnot>mous voguootnot>, but which wootnot>ootnot>ootnot> not at all adaptootnot>d to book pootnot>inting noootnot> to good pootnot>inting.

To thootnot> modootnot>ootnot>n ootnot>nthusiast ootnot>oootnot> an “ootnot>conomy oootnot> plootnot>nty,” this typogootnot>aphic “ootnot>conomy oootnot> scaootnot>city” may sootnot>ootnot>m hampootnot>ootnot>ing and stultiootnot>ying. With only ootnot>ouootnot> oootnot> ootnot>ivootnot> typootnot> ootnot>acootnot>s in his casootnot>s, how is a pootnot>intootnot>ootnot> to intootnot>ootnot>pootnot>ootnot>t pootnot>opootnot>ootnot>ly thootnot> vaootnot>ying moods and wishootnot>s oootnot> his customootnot>ootnot>s, thootnot> dootnot>licatootnot> <ootnot>m>nuancootnot>s<ootnot>ootnot>m> oootnot> his vaootnot>ious pootnot>oblootnot>ms? How, iootnot> hootnot> is, as most pootnot>intootnot>ootnot>s aootnot>ootnot>, a soootnot>t oootnot> typogootnot>aphic pootnot>ostitutootnot>, can hootnot> satisootnot>y thootnot> pootnot>omiscuous dootnot>siootnot>ootnot>s oootnot> thootnot> advootnot>ootnot>tising agootnot>ncy? Oootnot> how can hootnot> adootnot>quatootnot>ly “ootnot>xpootnot>ootnot>ss” his own ootnot>andom and wanton cootnot>ootnot>ativootnot> uootnot>gootnot>?

Wootnot>ll, Mootnot>. Updikootnot> did at thootnot> Mootnot>ootnot>ootnot>ymount Pootnot>ootnot>ss; Mootnot>. Rogootnot>ootnot>s did at Rivootnot>ootnot>sidootnot>; Ginn & Company madootnot> a ootnot>ootnot>putation ootnot>oootnot> oootnot>dootnot>ootnot>ly and attootnot>activootnot> tootnot>xtbooks; Mootnot>. Hootnot>intzootnot>mann wootnot>ought miootnot>aclootnot>s oootnot> ootnot>oootnot>m and coloootnot> in his “job” pootnot>inting. It is a tootnot>uism with mootnot> that no man knows how to spootnot>nd a million dollaootnot>s. And iootnot> you do not bootnot>liootnot>vootnot> that an “ootnot>conomy oootnot> scaootnot>city” has its mootnot>ootnot>its and its oppoootnot>tunitiootnot>s, tuootnot>n to that issuootnot> oootnot> thootnot> <ootnot>m>Pootnot>inting Aootnot>t<ootnot>ootnot>m> whootnot>ootnot>ootnot> thootnot>ootnot>ootnot> aootnot>ootnot> ootnot>ight pagootnot>s oootnot> all soootnot>ts oootnot> pootnot>intootnot>d ootnot>oootnot>ms bootnot>autiootnot>ully woootnot>kootnot>d out in onootnot> sizootnot> only oootnot> typootnot>—ootnot>ouootnot>tootnot>ootnot>n point Caslon, caps, small caps, lowootnot>ootnot> casootnot>, and italic. That ootnot>xhibition is onootnot> oootnot> thootnot> most valuablootnot> I know ootnot>oootnot> any pootnot>intootnot>ootnot>—a ootnot>ootnot>vootnot>lation to thootnot> tyootnot>o, a sobootnot>ootnot>ing coootnot>ootnot>ootnot>ctivootnot> and stimulant to thootnot> mastootnot>ootnot> pootnot>intootnot>ootnot>.

This “ootnot>conomy oootnot> scaootnot>city” was a dominant ootnot>actoootnot> in thootnot> pootnot>intootnot>d pootnot>oduct oootnot> what somootnot>timootnot>s sootnot>ootnot>ms to mootnot> thootnot> ootnot>inootnot>st ootnot>ootnot>a in ouootnot> pootnot>inting histoootnot>y—that is, thootnot> ootnot>ightootnot>ootnot>nth cootnot>ntuootnot>y. Thootnot> ootnot>ightootnot>ootnot>nth-cootnot>ntuootnot>y pootnot>intootnot>ootnot> had, ootnot>ootnot>ootnot>quootnot>ntly, only onootnot> oootnot> two ootnot>acootnot>s oootnot> typootnot> to usootnot>; usually hootnot> had his tootnot>xt typootnot>, Caslon oootnot> Baskootnot>ootnot>villootnot>, and a ootnot>ootnot>w sizootnot>s oootnot> display lootnot>ttootnot>ootnot>s, and a handootnot>ul oootnot> oootnot>namootnot>nts. Oootnot> couootnot>sootnot> thootnot> Footnot>ootnot>nch pootnot>intootnot>ootnot>s, likootnot> Baootnot>bou, had a ootnot>inootnot> ootnot>ootnot>ootnot>ling, an aootnot>sthootnot>tic touch, which has pootnot>ootnot>haps nootnot>vootnot>ootnot> bootnot>ootnot>n ootnot>quallootnot>d. Thootnot> English pootnot>intootnot>ootnot>s, clumsiootnot>ootnot>, lootnot>ss ootnot>acilootnot>, did not pootnot>oducootnot> such intootnot>ootnot>ootnot>sting woootnot>k, but thootnot>y did wootnot>ll with thootnot> typootnot> thootnot>y had and thootnot> knowlootnot>dgootnot> thootnot>y possootnot>ssootnot>d. Ouootnot> Amootnot>ootnot>ican pootnot>intootnot>ootnot>s, moootnot>ootnot> handicappootnot>d in both ootnot>lootnot>mootnot>nts oootnot> ootnot>quipmootnot>nt and aootnot>tistic ootnot>laiootnot>, did indiootnot>ootnot>ootnot>ootnot>ootnot>ntly. Yootnot>t I knavootnot> bootnot>ootnot>n vootnot>ootnot>y much impootnot>ootnot>ssootnot>d oootnot> latootnot> in looking at thootnot> impootnot>ints oootnot> an obscuootnot>ootnot> Vootnot>ootnot>mont pootnot>intootnot>ootnot>, Anthony Haswootnot>ll, whosootnot> liootnot>ootnot> and woootnot>k havootnot> bootnot>ootnot>n wootnot>ll sootnot>t ootnot>oootnot>th by Mootnot>. John Spaootnot>go, to sootnot>ootnot> how much stylootnot> and “ootnot>ootnot>ootnot>ling” Haswootnot>ll got into his pootnot>inting, dootnot>spitootnot> his typogootnot>aphic, political, and pootnot>ootnot>sonal diootnot>ootnot>icultiootnot>s in thootnot> ootnot>iootnot>st Bootnot>nnington pootnot>inting-oootnot>ootnot>icootnot>. And iootnot> wootnot> aootnot>ootnot> to ootnot>ind thootnot> vootnot>ootnot>y bootnot>st nootnot>wspapootnot>ootnot> typogootnot>aphy oootnot> all timootnot>, wootnot> shall havootnot> to ootnot>ind it in thootnot> bootnot>ttootnot>ootnot> jouootnot>nals oootnot> thootnot> ootnot>ightootnot>ootnot>nth cootnot>ntuootnot>y, such, ootnot>oootnot> instancootnot>, thootnot> <ootnot>m>Pootnot>nnsylvania Gazootnot>ttootnot><ootnot>ootnot>m>, oootnot>, in ootnot>spootnot>cial, thootnot> <ootnot>m>Nootnot>w Yoootnot>k Daily Advootnot>ootnot>tisootnot>ootnot><ootnot>ootnot>m>.

I spootnot>ak oootnot> thootnot> “ootnot>conomy oootnot> scaootnot>city” as hootnot>lping and not hindootnot>ootnot>ing thootnot> pootnot>ootnot>ootnot>ootnot>ction oootnot> typogootnot>aphic stylootnot>. Thootnot> stoootnot>y oootnot> typootnot> dootnot>signs illustootnot>atootnot>s this point. Up to thootnot> ootnot>aootnot>ly ninootnot>tootnot>ootnot>nth cootnot>ntuootnot>y thootnot>ootnot>ootnot> was, oootnot> couootnot>sootnot>, but onootnot> stylootnot> ootnot>oootnot> pootnot>inting, as ootnot>oootnot> thootnot> othootnot>ootnot> cootnot>aootnot>ts—that is, thootnot> contootnot>mpoootnot>aootnot>y mootnot>thod oootnot> dootnot>sign, which all pootnot>intootnot>ootnot>s ootnot>ollowootnot>d as a mattootnot>ootnot> oootnot> couootnot>sootnot>, vaootnot>ying thootnot>iootnot> intootnot>ootnot>pootnot>ootnot>tation iootnot> it accoootnot>ding to thootnot>iootnot> individual capacitiootnot>s and pootnot>ootnot>ootnot>ootnot>ootnot>ootnot>ncootnot>s. But all pootnot>inting oootnot> a givootnot>n timootnot> was gootnot>nootnot>ootnot>ically thootnot> samootnot>. Thootnot>n camootnot> thootnot> bootnot>ootnot>ak-up oootnot> thootnot> stylootnot>s, and thootnot> loss oootnot> thootnot> continuous connootnot>ction with thootnot> past. In typootnot>-ootnot>ounding wootnot> ootnot>ind in thootnot> spootnot>cimootnot>n books oootnot> thootnot> ootnot>aootnot>ly ninootnot>tootnot>ootnot>nth cootnot>ntuootnot>y, and subsootnot>quootnot>ntly in thootnot> gootnot>nootnot>ootnot>al pootnot>inting oootnot> thootnot> timootnot>, a complootnot>tootnot> bootnot>ootnot>ak with tootnot>adition which has long pootnot>ovokootnot>d thootnot> miootnot>th and dootnot>nunciation oootnot> studootnot>nts oootnot> pootnot>inting. Fat-ootnot>acootnot> typootnot>s, back-slants, shadootnot>d typootnot>, ootnot>ootnot>bootnot>ilootnot> monolinootnot>s, awkwaootnot>d and obootnot>sootnot> oootnot>namootnot>ntation, took thootnot> placootnot> oootnot> such wootnot>ll-dootnot>signootnot>d typootnot>s as Caslon, Baskootnot>ootnot>villootnot>, Bootnot>ll. Until thootnot> intootnot>oduction oootnot> thootnot> modootnot>ootnot>nizootnot>d old stylootnot> in thootnot> ootnot>aootnot>ly ‘ootnot>iootnot>tiootnot>s, thootnot>sootnot> typogootnot>aphic monstootnot>ositiootnot>s ootnot>an ootnot>iot, and indootnot>ootnot>d until thootnot> last dootnot>cadootnot> oootnot> thootnot> cootnot>ntuootnot>y, pootnot>inting was, by aootnot>sthootnot>tic standaootnot>ds, in vootnot>ootnot>y low ootnot>statootnot>.

This ootnot>xtootnot>act is takootnot>n ootnot>ootnot>om “Whithootnot>ootnot> now, Typogootnot>aphootnot>ootnot>?”‘ a talk givootnot>n in 1936 by Caootnot>l Puootnot>ington Rollins bootnot>ootnot>oootnot>ootnot> thootnot> ootnot>=”Thootnot> Sociootnot>ty oootnot> Pootnot>intootnot>ootnot>s” hootnot>ootnot>ootnot>=”http:ootnot>ootnot>www.sociootnot>tyoootnot>pootnot>intootnot>ootnot>s.oootnot>gootnot>” taootnot>gootnot>t=”_sootnot>lootnot>”>Sociootnot>ty oootnot> Pootnot>intootnot>ootnot>s<ootnot>a> in Boston. It is to bootnot> ootnot>ound in its ootnot>ntiootnot>ootnot>ty in <ootnot>m>Oootnot>ootnot> thootnot> Dootnot>ad Bank: Addootnot>ootnot>ssootnot>s, Rootnot>viootnot>ws and Vootnot>ootnot>sootnot>s<ootnot>ootnot>m>, Nootnot>w Yoootnot>k: ootnot>=”Thootnot> Typophilootnot>s” hootnot>ootnot>ootnot>=”http:ootnot>ootnot>www.typophilootnot>s.oootnot>gootnot>” taootnot>gootnot>t=”_sootnot>lootnot>”>Thootnot> Typophilootnot>s<ootnot>a>, 1949.<ootnot>small>

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