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[TYPE DESIGNS OF SOVIET SECRET POLICE] Obraztsy shriftov russkikh, frantsizskikh, ornamentov [i.e. Specimens of Russian and French Typefaces, Ornaments]. Issue #2

Moscow: 1927. Item #1861

[140] pp. 23x15,5 cm. In contemporary cloth binding with original front wrapper glued above. Tears of spine, narrow and pale water stain on outer edge of first leaves, stains occasionally, few pencil marks, one page partly cut off, ink stain on Trotsky’s name, otherwise very good.

This catalog was compiled and published at the Printing, Lithography and Binding Shop of the Joint State Political Directorate named after Comrade Vorovskoi (OGPU). The OGPU was intelligence and secret police persecuting real and fabricated criminals. They were based in the Lubyanka Building and made its infamy. The printing shop was located some buildings down the street. Since its emergence, this catalog is the second.
Students of this printing shop became the creators of type specimens. Some pages show that one student produced two lines of a font. Most likely, texts were set without supervision, so students might bring a slogan, a song piece, a joke, their own name. Its particularly interesting to see their impressions of typesetting or news about their work, e.g. “Since May 1, employees of the OGPU printing shop are going on vacation for a month” or an address to another student, e.g. “Fil’ka, you and me graduate in October!”, etc. Some students united and two-three specimen formed a dialog, for example:
“- I was transferred to the cavalry, send me money for a mare. Goodbye, your Abrasha.
- We did not receive the letter in which you asked for money for the mare. Komsomol Gathering.
-And also, dear Abrasha, we ask you not to be different anymore. Komsomol Gathering.”
In all, the catalog includes a wide range of Russian typefaces, some French ones, Greek alphabet and text specimen in one font, art nouveau decorative elements, decorations of borders and dots, ornamental backgrounds, mathematical symbols and digits.

Not in Worldcat.

Status: On Hold