For centuries, the Armenian script has been connected with national identity. As a small nation surrounded by and then incorporated into more powerful neighbouring empires, its written language was an important means of preserving its culture.
As printing technology developed, the growth of the global Armenian diaspora based largely in the West in the nineteenth century and the emergence Soviet Armenia placed additional emphasis on the link between the written language and identity.
This book is a history of Armenian text typefaces across different type-making technologies from their inception in movable type until the late twentieth century. It identifies the factorstechnical limitations, typographic trends, Western culture, Armenian identity, readers preferencesthat influenced the development of Armenian fonts by assessing the most significant Armenian typefaces in their historical, social, cultural and geographical context.
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A history of Armenian typefaces, from the early modern period to the twentieth century.
Introduction
1. The establishment of the tradition of printed Armenian characters in early
printing
2. From religious books to nationalistic publications
3. The spread of Bolorgir types through missionary and scholarly work
4. The beginning of the Latinization of the Armenian script
5. Aspects of Latinization in the nineteenth century
6. The spread of the new upright style in the Armenian Diaspora
7. The beginning of Armenian mechanical composition
8. The development of the first Monotype Armenian typefaces for hot metal
composition, Series 638
9. Awetiseans endeavours in Armenian type design
10. Transition to filmsetting
11. Conclusion
Notes
Bibliography
Glossary
Elena Papassissa is Lecturer in Graphic Design at Oxford Brookes University, UK. She has previously taught graphic design and type design at the University of West London, UK, and Camberwell College of Arts at UAL, UK. She holds a PhD in Typography and Graphic Communication from the University of Reading, UK.
