About the Letter Library platform

Information about type specimens and scans of type specimens are scattered across the internet. The goal of the Letter Library is to bring the information and materials together in one place, so they can be properly searched, studied and preserved. To achieve this, the Letter Library will partner with libraries, archives, museums and private collectors who can make information about their type specimens or the type specimens themselves accessible through our website.

Who is it for?

Letter Library can be used by groups such as:

• design students who want to learn about font and graphic design styles
• type designers who want to study or revive letterpress fonts
• researchers in fields such as cultural studies, history and design
• and anyone who enjoys typography and letterforms

Access

After the beta period, anyone will be able to register on the Letter Library website to learn, contribute, add information or scans, ask questions, get in touch with libraries and collectors and so on. All content will be curated by experts to ensure consistence and correctness. Accounts can be set up for invidual users or in the name of organizations.
Most of the data on the Letter Library website will be public to make the information as accessible as possible.

What does the Letter Library collect?

The focus of this online archive is on type specimens issued by type foundries. But we also accept related content, like alphabets from sign painting instructions.

Who is behind it?

The Letter Library is part of the typography network of Schriftkontor Ralf Herrmann with 20 years of experience in running educational typography websites.

Contribute as library/archive

If you have a database of the type specimen books you own, feel free to get in touch to discuss a data import into the Letter Library platform so we can direct people to your offers.

Contribute as type foundry

We preserve the legacy of your typefaces! Digital type specimens like PDFs can be uploaded directly to the Letter Library platform as soon as the website goes live. In addition, you can send in your physical type specimens, so we can take pictures of them or scan them. The physical copies themselves will also be preserved in partnership with the printing museum Pavillon-Presse. Please check if your type specimen already exists in their archive for physical fonts or digital fonts. If not, feel free to send in your type specimens to the museum’s address.