Incoming: SPEEDBALL TEXTBOOK 24TH EDITION

Here’s a surprise that came my way this year. Months ago I was contacted by Randall Hasson to see if I’d be interested in having some of my lettering included in the upcoming 24th edition of the venerable Speedball Textbook, created in 1915 by William Hugh Gordon and Ross F. George to instruct and explain the uses of the then brand-new Speedball lettering pens. The book was a perennial seller, going through many editions and revisions, and this one celebrates the 100th anniversary with classy production values: color throughout, glossy paper, and nice design work. Mr Hasson had found the dissections of the 14th Edition from 1941 on my blog, which begin HERE, and liked what I had to say. He wanted to include a short piece on comics lettering in the new edition he was editing, and asked for my input and some art. I told him he was about 20 years too late for comics, as nearly all of them are now lettered with digital fonts, but he wanted my work anyway. Seeing the finished book, I realize he’s included lots of material involving the craft of making letters, from sign painting to the latest in calligraphy and hand-made logos, so I’m happy to be included. There are also many lessons, examples and alphabets from the entire run of past editions, so it’s a nice package.

Here’s the first half of the comics spread with art by Jim Woodring and text I had a hand in.

And here’s the other side with my work, some hand-lettering from my Comic Book Dreams print, and a color version of my Lettering Sampler print. What a fun place to see my work!

I’m not sure when the book goes on sale officially, but you can pre-order it on the Speedball website if you’re interested.