Eric Gill

Eric Gill – born 22. 2. 1882 in Brighton, England, died 17. 11. 1940 in Uxbridge, England – sculptor, graphic artist, type designer. Studied at the Chichester Technical and Art School.

1899–1903: works in an architect’s office. Takes lessons in lettering with Edward Johnston at the Central School of Arts and Crafts in London. 1905–09: produces initials and book covers for Insel publishers in Leipzig. 1906: designs inititals for Ashedene Press. 1907: moves to Ditchling, Sussex. Here he produces stone sculptures, including for the BBC building in London. 1914: produces sculptures for the stations of the cross in Westminster Cathedral in London. 1924: moves to Capel-y-ffin. 1925–31: works for the Golden Cockerell Press (initials, illustrations and an exclusive text type). 1928: moves to Pigotts near High Wycombe. Works for London Underground’s administrative headquarters. With his son-in-law he founds his own hand-press which prints luxury bibliophile editions. 1930: illustrations for the last number of "The Fleuron" magazine. 1937: designs a postage stamp which is in use for 15 years. 1936: made a Royal Designer for Industry. 1938: produces stone tablets for the League of Nations building in Geneva.

Fonts: Gill Sans® (1927–30), Golden Cockerell Roman (1929), Perpetua® (1929–30), Solus (1929), Joanna® (1930–31), Aries (1932), Floriated Capitals™ (1932), Bunyan, Pilgrim (1934), Jubilee (1934).

Publications include: "Essay on Typography", London 1931; "Autobiography", London 1940. R. Speaight "The Life of Eric Gill", London 1966; R. Brewer "Eric Gill", London 1966; R. Brewer "Eric Gill, the man who loved letters", London 1973; R. Harling "The letter forms and type design of Eric Gill", Westerham 1976; F. MacCarthy "Eric Gill", New York 1989.

* TYPOGRAPHY – An Encyclopedic Survey of Type Design and Techniques Throughout History by Friedrich Friedl, Nicolaus Ott (Editor), Bernard Stein, published by Könemann Verlagsgesellschaft mbH.