Font Designer – Robert Granjon
It is assumed that Robert was the son of the Paris printer and publisher Jean Granjon. Trained as a goldsmith. From 1543 onwards: punch cutter in Paris. 1543–48: works as a steel punch cutter. 1549: his first book is published in Paris, a pocket book edition of the New Testament in Greek and Latin. 1550–51: works with type founder Michel Felandat. 1556–57: works as a punch cutter, type founder, printer and publisher in Lyon. Designs the Gothic italic typeface Civilité which earns him gream acclaim. Designs and cuts the notes ans musical symbols for a song book published in Paris. 1562: returns to Paris where he works as a a punch cutter and type founder. 1563–70: works closely with Christoph Plantin. 1565: Granjon produces his Parangonne Greque typeface at the instigation of Plantin a a counterpart to Garamond´s Grec du Roi. 1570–74: Granjon offers his typefaces for sale at the Frankfurt fair. 1578: Granjon goes to Rome at the request of Pope Gregory XIII to cut exotic type for the Vatican´s printing workshop. During his lifetime Granjon created 9 typefaces and a set of musical symbols. Whilst working as a punch cutter, Granjon designed c. 50 different alphabets, for which he cut c. 6,000 punches.
* TYPOGRAPHY – An Encyclopedic Survey of Type Design and Techniques Throughout History by Friedrich Friedl, Nicolaus Ott (Editor), Bernard Stein, published by Könemann Verlagsgesellschaft mbH.