Berthold Wolpe
Encyclopedia
Berthold Ludwig Wolpe OBE
(October 29, 1905–July 5, 1989) was a German typeface
designer and teacher.
Wolpe was born in Offenbach
, Germany
. Trained as a calligrapher with Rudolf Koch
at the Offenbach Workshops, as well as a silversmith. The dual knowledge of these crafts informed his thinking about letter design. Wolpe became acquainted with Stanley Morison
in 1932, and emigrated to London in 1935, where he worked until 1940 for the Fanfare Press. During World War II
, as a German national, he was relocated through U-Boat-infested waters to Australia with many of his émigré countrymen who were residing in Britain. He was allowed to return in 1941, and later that year married artist Margaret Smith.
He designed over 1,500 book jackets for the publisher Faber & Faber between 1941 and 1975.
Wolpe was given the Royal Designers for Industry
(RDI) award by the Royal Society of Arts
in 1959. He was appointed an Officer of the Order of the British Empire
(OBE) in 1983.
Order of the British Empire
The Most Excellent Order of the British Empire is an order of chivalry established on 4 June 1917 by George V of the United Kingdom. The Order comprises five classes in civil and military divisions...
(October 29, 1905–July 5, 1989) was a German typeface
Typeface
In typography, a typeface is the artistic representation or interpretation of characters; it is the way the type looks. Each type is designed and there are thousands of different typefaces in existence, with new ones being developed constantly....
designer and teacher.
Wolpe was born in Offenbach
Offenbach, Hesse
Offenbach am Main is a city in Hesse, Germany, located on southside of the river Main just next to Frankfurt am Main. In 2009 it had a population of 118,770. The city is part of the Frankfurt/Rhine-Main metropolitan area as well as the Frankfurt urban area....
, Germany
Germany
Germany , officially the Federal Republic of Germany , is a federal parliamentary republic in Europe. The country consists of 16 states while the capital and largest city is Berlin. Germany covers an area of 357,021 km2 and has a largely temperate seasonal climate...
. Trained as a calligrapher with Rudolf Koch
Rudolf Koch
thumb|250px|[[Fraktur]] fonts by Rudolf KochRudolf Koch was a leading German calligrapher, typographic artist and teacher, born in Nuremberg. He was primarily a calligrapher with the Gebr. Klingspor foundry. He created several typefaces, in both fraktur and roman styles...
at the Offenbach Workshops, as well as a silversmith. The dual knowledge of these crafts informed his thinking about letter design. Wolpe became acquainted with Stanley Morison
Stanley Morison
Stanley Morison was an English typographer, designer and historian of printing.Born in Wanstead, Essex, Morison spent most of his childhood and early adult years at the family home in Fairfax Road, Harringay...
in 1932, and emigrated to London in 1935, where he worked until 1940 for the Fanfare Press. During World War II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
, as a German national, he was relocated through U-Boat-infested waters to Australia with many of his émigré countrymen who were residing in Britain. He was allowed to return in 1941, and later that year married artist Margaret Smith.
He designed over 1,500 book jackets for the publisher Faber & Faber between 1941 and 1975.
Wolpe was given the Royal Designers for Industry
Royal Designers for Industry
Royal Designer for Industry is a distinction established by the British Royal Society of Arts in 1936, to encourage a high standard of industrial design and enhance the status of designers. It is awarded to people who have achieved "sustained excellence in aesthetic and efficient design for...
(RDI) award by the Royal Society of Arts
Royal Society of Arts
The Royal Society for the encouragement of Arts, Manufacturers and Commerce is a British multi-disciplinary institution, based in London. The name Royal Society of Arts is frequently used for brevity...
in 1959. He was appointed an Officer of the Order of the British Empire
Order of the British Empire
The Most Excellent Order of the British Empire is an order of chivalry established on 4 June 1917 by George V of the United Kingdom. The Order comprises five classes in civil and military divisions...
(OBE) in 1983.
Typefaces
- Hyperion (1931)
- AlbertusAlbertus (typeface)Albertus is a glyphic, serif typeface designed by Berthold Wolpe in the period 1932 to 1940 for the Monotype Corporation type foundry. Wolpe named the font after Albertus Magnus, the thirteenth-century German philosopher and theologian....
(1932–40) - Tempest (1936)
- Sachsenwald (1937)
- Pegasus (1938)
- Decorata (1950)
- Johnston's Sans Serif (1973)
Teaching Posts
- Camberwell College of Art (1948–53)
- Royal College of Art, London (1956–57)
- City & Guilds of London School of Art