- Firmin Didot
Firmin Didot (
April 14 1764 –April 24 1836 ) was a French printer,engraver , and type founder. He invented the word "stereotype ", which inprinting refers to the metal printing plate created for the actual printing of pages (as opposed to printing pages directly withmovable type ), and used the process extensively, revolutionizing the book trade by his cheap editions. His manufactory was a place of pilgrimage for the printers of the world. Firmin Didot was born inParis into a family of printers founded byFrançois Didot , the father of 11 children. Firmin was one of his grandchildren. The family's paper manufactory was located at Essonnes, a town c. 30 km southeast ofParis near Corbeil, which had notable paper factories.France is indebted to the Didot family for the publication of the "Biographie Nationale", andBelgium is also indebted for the establishment of her Royal Press. Relatives of Firmin Didot includeFrançois Ambroise Didot (1730–1804);Pierre François Didot (1732–95);Henri Didot (1765–1862); andPierre Didot (1760–1853)."Essai sur la Typographie" by a member of the Didot family was published at
Paris in 1852.Along with
Giambattista Bodoni of Italy, Firmin Didot is credited with establishing the use of the "Modern" classification of typefaces. The types that Didot used are characterized by extreme contrast in thick strokes and thin strokes, by the use of hairline serifs and by the vertical stress of the letters. Many fonts today are available based on Firmin Didot's typefaces. These include Linotype Didot [http://www.linotype.com/1012/linotypedidot-family.html?PHPSESSID=83d4b00460bdf44174dda7fae4523166#] and HTF Didot [http://www.typography.com/catalog/didot/] .References
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Didot
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