Berthold Wolpe OBE, RDI

This is the first in a series of essays written in the late 1990s by my late father, Rowley Atterbury. They are about the people with whom he had worked and who he felt had contributed to the graphic arts and printing industry up to the end of the last century.

Most of these people I remember well although I met them as a child and I enjoy the mental pictures these texts bring to mind. Most of what’s written is probably true and, even though Rowley was never one to let the truth get in the way of a good story, these stories certainly ring true in my memory!

Berthold Wolpe

Bertold Wolpe

Berthold Wolpe RDI OBE was a world class designer who has modestly slipped away from us all. A pupil and then assistant to Rudolph Koch, he came to this country in 1935 initially working with Ernest Ingham at the Fanfare Press and then joining Richard de la Mare at Faber & Faber where he worked until his retirement, mainly on book jackets but sometimes on books, at which he excelled, and usually after 4pm. His normal working hours being spent in second-hand book shops or junk shops of one kind or another. This was made possible by W. J. Crawley, Faber Sales Director who had to approve all jackets, not coming to work himself until after 4pm. In between times Berthold collected ephemera of all kinds; writing instruments, books, paintings, Lewis guns, nothing was too obscure for his collection. He also revived the practice of beachcombing along the banks of the Thames in the middle of London.

At his desk

Berthold was a great and most distinguished designer of type. He must surely be one of the greats of this century. Not for him another rehash of somebody else’s work. His work was original in thought and execution. Devices, ornaments of all kinds complemented his many type designs, Albertus, Pegasus, Hyperion, Decorata, Albertus Shadow and Sachsenwald to name a few. Albertus is well known, having been widely used, usually without acknowledgement. Pegasus, a little used splendid text face for newspaper or book, so preferable to the much debased Times New Roman and seen to advantage in Keith Murgatroyd’s proposed Daily Telegraph redesign and in Berthold’s own catalogue of his retrospective exhibition at the Victoria and Albert Museum in 1980. Decorata, rarely seen, is a decorated type in the best tradition and will no doubt follow Ian Mortimer’s superb present work, when he arrives at contemporary decorated typefaces.

Bible Title Page

Albertus Shadow

Decorata

Berthold was a modest, warm man and a great supporter of younger people starting enterprises in the graphic fields. Somewhat fondly mocked by the satirical drawings of Charles Mozley and often dressed like Sherlock Holmes, he was greatly underrated. He may be gone but his work will live long after many inferior type designs are forgotten.

Satirical drawing

Satirical drawing