Typometry (printing)

For other uses, see Typometry (disambiguation).

Typometric map of the region of Galicia (Eastern Europe) by Franz Raffelsperger (detail)

Typometry is an outdated technique which was developed during the 18th and 19th centuries for the composition of maps, drawings and other designs by means of setting cast type and letterpress type in order to reproduce words, lineworks and map signs.

History

In the 18th century, deacon August Gottlieb Preuschen (1734–1803), from Karlsruhe (Germany), published two books about the art of printing maps by using movable type. These books were printed by William Haas, son, in his printing press (known as Haas’schen Schriftgießerei) of Basel (Switzerland).

After some rudimentary tests by Preuschen around 1734-34, the 1776 map of the Canton of Basel (in in cuarto format) is the first map created by this technique. Some others would follow, such as the 1777 map of Sicily, which features both toponyms printed with moveable type and roads, coasts, divisions and rivers made by folding metal strings. Special moveable topographic symbols mark the mountain ranges of the island, its fortifications, as well as other landmarks.

The printer Johann Gottlob Immanuel Breitkopf, based in Leipzig (Germany) was at first critical with the invention, claiming that it was impossible to accurately adapt and assemble different shapes of types to create a new form. But, after the typometric prints were proven to be successful, he began experimenting himself with the technique, and a competition between Basel and Leipzig was established.

In the early 19th century, two different issues of a French review called the Bulletin de la Société d’Encouragement pour l’Industrie Nationale contained articles about typometry. The first one, of 1808, referred to the research work of Mr. Periaux and Mr. Poterat, to produce typometric maps, in order to generate a viable alternative to engraved maps. The second article, of 1825, referred to the advancements made by Firmin Didot, son, in the technique of printing maps by using typographic means.

The polychrome maps of France made by Didot were sold at the price of 1 franc and 50 cents, which was more affordable than the monochrome engraved maps of the time. Typometric maps, even with their inferior detail quality, where also considerably faster to produce than engraved maps. In Vienna, the Slovak cartograph Franz Raffelsperger (1793-1861) also helped to perfect the technique during the 19th century. However, with the advent of lithography, invented by Alois Senefelder around 1800, typometry was confronted with another method that was even better at reproducing detail and that allowed to print several solid colours at a low price, so it was progressively abandoned.