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Robert Harling (typographer)

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Harling now turned his hand to writing a number of popular 'pulp fiction' titles including: The Paper Palace (1951), The Dark Saviour (1952), The Enormous Shadow (1955), The Endless Colonnade (1958), The Hollow Sunday (1967), The Athenian Widow (1974) and finally The Summer Portrait (1979). He wrote
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Besides the magazine, he launched a series of books on the same theme, starting in 1959 with House & Garden Interiors and Colour. Ten more books followed, his last contributions being the House & Garden Book of Romantic Rooms (1985), and House & Garden Book of Classic Rooms (1989); in
241:, "trying – not all that successfully – to learn more about the technical side of printing". This led him to write and publish two books prior to the war: The London Miscellany (1937) and Home: a vignette (1938). Both drew on his love of 19th-century architecture and design. By the start of 267:, and had heard about Harling's editorship of the Typography journal, which was setting new standards for the design and display of printed matter. During their meeting he learned that Harling was also writer and designer of "News-Reel Maps" for the 329:(ISTD), where he put him to work examining photographs of enemy held terrain and applying the knowledge he had gained researching maps for the News Chronicle. This led to an adventurous air-trip to various parts of the world to collect data. 974: 489:
Robert Henry Harling, typographer, graphic artist and designer, editor and novelist: born London 27 March 1910. Married Phoebe Konstam (who predeceased him in 2006) in April 1945, having met at the
475:(1976) is still considered the best assessment of Gill's work, which perhaps is no surprise given Harling was also a master of lettering. He also contributed his memories to The Wood-engravings of 448:(on interior design). With his dedicated and happy crew he revitalised House & Garden, and produced a Magazine in Britain which would contrast the ancient and modern, colour and simplicity. 1021: 409:, about the editorship of House & Garden. Fleming was astounded that his friend Harling wanted the job, but did what he was asked, and the deal was done surprisingly quickly. 179:. This was the story he put about. "Later research showed this was complete invention. He grew up and went to school in Islington, with a living mother and a father who drove a 482:
Harling's greatest legacy to Printing and Publishing can probably be summed up as his generous approach to helping younger designers, editors and authors in understanding the
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Harling would admit that some of the fun of life diminished following the death of his friend Fleming in 1964, but he remained alert and active, and could still be found at
183:. He had a brother and a first wife who, like his parents, had been ruthlessly excised by Harling from his biography, and came as a revelation to his middle-aged children." 275:'s up-and-coming advertising agency. This led him to commission Harling to redesign the Admiralty's weekly intelligence report, but they were not to meet again until 1941. 749: 194:
for plate, fine examples of English vernacular lettering. His "uncle" would enlarge them for him photographically so he could laboriously copy them. This love of
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and inherited by other companies after it left the printing market. They are single-style designs with no italics; Tea Chest has no lower-case characters.
373: 372:, where his friend Fleming had become Foreign News Manager. With his old friend James Shand, printer and sponsor of Typography, he launched a new journal, 401:
taking over his creator's life to an alarming extent. In 1957 Fleming was about to go to New York, when Harling suggested that he might sound out "Pat" (
247: 1011: 445: 402: 340:, he pursued the task assigned to the unit to pick up enemy code-books, security documents and wireless equipment through fierce fighting round 41: 1026: 376:(1946–48), which later became Image (1949–52). He was also given a larger room in the Delamere advertising agency, and was a consultant to 264: 986: 387: 88: 486:, many of whom he has outlived. If the style itself has changed, the Harling message of clarity, simplicity, and economy etc., has not. 1016: 60: 505:
border in 1953, which was made more picturesque by the removal of a later top floor. He died on 1 June 2008, at Godstone, Surrey.
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His work can be seen to the present day as he was responsible for the current, and iconic, external design and typography of the
272: 163:, and a lifelong appreciation for architecture and design, and the Sea, where he learnt to swim and sail. With the death of his 326: 217:, but as he would tell friends later "left, quite untrained, a year later". Two six-month stints followed at two of the best 151:, London, in 1910, and was orphaned at an early age being brought up by his mother's friend, a nurse whom he regarded as an 74: 344:, and on into France. Cautious, eventually cordial relations with American forces brought a memorable meeting with General 352:
to round up German scientists. A final mission to Norway to disarm German naval forces brought a close to Harling's war.
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1980 with Miles Hadfield he published British Gardeners: a biographical dictionary – this being a reworking of
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he had a staff of 18 which included Leonie Highton, and later John Bridges, and three outstanding advisers:
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Fleming, too, had taken to thrillers, and their friendship continued to increase during the period, despite
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late on Saturday evenings until 1985. Nor did his interest in the graphic arts wain. His publication
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design inspired by theatre and circus posters. Known for being bundled with some Microsoft software.
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a book which he had developed with Miles Hadfield and Leonie Highton thirty five years earlier.
750:"Tight trousers and typography: Robert Harling, the mystery man who could have been James Bond" 553:, Miles Hadfield, Robert Harling, Leonie Highton. Routledge & Kegan Paul Ltd, London (1955) 315: 187: 1006: 1001: 638: 218: 203: 8: 535:, Robert Harling, Leonie Highton, Yvonne Jaques, Nigel Kendall. London, Condé Nast (1967) 377: 311: 303: 287: 222: 337: 190:, which he was given on his 12th birthday. He was fascinated by the reproductions of 686: 895: 710: 696: 690:
Robert Harling's "Chisel" typeface, an adaptation of a "Latin" or wedge-serif face.
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Robert Harling's success came despite an unpromising upbringing. He was born in
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Following a meeting in London in 1941 Fleming recruited Harling to work in the
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In between convoy duty and the ISTD Harling had redesigned the ailing
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Tea Chest (1939), a stencil design inspired by old boxes and industry
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All three designs were created for Sheffield type-foundry
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He attributed his interest in lettering from his study of
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Alphabet and Image, Published in Baseline Magazine, 2009
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Royal Naval Volunteer Reserve personnel of World War II
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Harling now established a new routine, four days at
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Harling, a keen amateur sailor, volunteered for the
769: 294:. Sub-Lieutenant Harling, RNVR, next found himself 48:. Unsourced material may be challenged and removed. 652:He worked for several other newspapers including: 533:Guide to interior decoration (House & garden) 336:Fleming again tapped Harling. Landing soon after 993: 508: 605:The London Miscellany. A 19th Century Scrapbook 394:easily and well, with a good ear for dialogue. 587:Notes on the Wood-engravings of Eric Ravilious 527:The Letterforms and Type Designs of Eric Gill 255:World War Two. The Royal Navy and Ian Fleming 515:British Gardeners. A biographical dictionary 355: 888: 595:(1944) reprinted in 1952 under his own name 271:, and "demi-semi-resident art director" of 862: 828: 314:in 1946, based on his experiences in the 213:, and then got a job as a trainee at the 108:Learn how and when to remove this message 914: 685: 617: 1012:English typographers and type designers 775: 741: 198:and contemporary gothic led him to the 994: 327:Inter-Service Topographical Department 229:(for whom he mounted an exhibition on 142: 470:The Letter-forms and Type-designs of 412: 747: 46:adding citations to reliable sources 17: 1027:Royal Navy officers of World War II 159:, bringing him in contact with the 155:. After her marriage they moved to 13: 831:"Modern Typography in Advertising" 729: 571:(Chatto & Windus, London 1951) 444:(to discover unknown houses), and 14: 1038: 1017:20th-century English male writers 944: 200:Central School of Arts and Crafts 57:"Robert Harling" typographer 583:, Chatto and Windus, London 1946 22: 613:(The Robson Press, London 2015) 33:needs additional citations for 849: 733:. "Robert Harling at Ninety". 611:Ian Fleming: A Personal Memoir 442:Loelia, Duchess of Westminster 209:He briefly kept a bookshop in 1: 716: 575:The Drawings of Edward Bawden 509:Selected Books and other work 459: 421:, and Friday and Saturday at 202:, having rejected a place at 705:Chisel (1939), inscriptional 627:'s UK and European magazine 7: 857:Wisden Cricketers' Almanack 675:Wisden Cricketers' Almanack 259:In 1939 Robert Harling met 10: 1043: 308:The Steep Atlantick Stream 748:Jack, Ian (21 May 2014). 661:Times Literary Supplement 581:The Steep Atlantic Stream 356:Immediate Post-War Career 829:Schmoller, Hans (1953). 776:Harling, Robert (1936). 681: 645:Designed the periodical 607:(Heinemann, London 1937) 306:. This led him to write 302:, on convoy duty in the 380:and in 1947 redesigned 322:between 1941 and 1942. 691: 334:30AU (30 Assault Unit) 286:, he found himself at 175:, and was enrolled in 689: 618:Selected Achievements 551:Pioneers in Gardening 545:The Endless Colonnade 454:Pioneers in Gardening 211:Lamb's Conduit Street 639:The Sunday Telegraph 121:Robert Henry Harling 42:improve this article 859:2009 edition, p1605 695:Playbill (1938), a 557:The Enormous Shadow 521:The Summer Portrait 378:The Financial Times 312:Chatto & Windus 143:Early life and work 692: 630:House & Garden 419:House & Garden 413:House & Garden 374:Alphabet and Image 304:Western Approaches 265:Naval Intelligence 188:Pears' Cyclopaedia 123:(27 March 1910 in 959:2 July 2008 (p34) 778:"The New Display" 539:The Hollow Sunday 233:in 1935) and the 127:– 1 July 2008 in 118: 117: 110: 92: 1034: 938: 937: 935: 933: 918: 912: 911: 909: 907: 892: 886: 885: 883: 881: 866: 860: 853: 847: 846: 844: 842: 826: 820: 819: 817: 815: 808:Art and Industry 804:"Robert Harling" 800: 794: 793: 791: 789: 782:Art and Industry 773: 767: 766: 764: 762: 745: 739: 738: 727: 711:Stephenson Blake 697:French Clarendon 647:Art and Industry 599:Home: a vignette 569:The Paper Palace 563:The Dark Saviour 477:Tirzah Ravilious 466:The Sunday Times 434:House and Garden 427:Sunday Telegraph 423:The Sunday Times 370:The Sunday Times 248:Art and Industry 221:in the country, 135:) was a British 113: 106: 102: 99: 93: 91: 50: 26: 18: 1042: 1041: 1037: 1036: 1035: 1033: 1032: 1031: 992: 991: 980:The Independent 947: 942: 941: 931: 929: 920: 919: 915: 905: 903: 894: 893: 889: 879: 877: 868: 867: 863: 854: 850: 840: 838: 827: 823: 813: 811: 802: 801: 797: 787: 785: 774: 770: 760: 758: 746: 742: 728: 724: 719: 684: 667:Financial Times 620: 511: 462: 438:Elizabeth David 415: 405:), the head of 358: 310:, published by 290:in charge of a 257: 167:he returned to 145: 114: 103: 97: 94: 51: 49: 39: 27: 12: 11: 5: 1040: 1030: 1029: 1024: 1019: 1014: 1009: 1004: 990: 989: 984: 972: 960: 946: 945:External links 943: 940: 939: 913: 887: 861: 848: 821: 795: 768: 740: 721: 720: 718: 715: 707: 706: 703: 700: 683: 680: 679: 678: 671: 650: 643: 634: 619: 616: 615: 614: 608: 602: 596: 593:Amateur Sailor 590: 584: 578: 572: 566: 560: 554: 548: 542: 536: 530: 524: 518: 510: 507: 461: 458: 446:Olive Sullivan 414: 411: 403:Iva Patcevitch 357: 354: 316:North Atlantic 269:News Chronicle 256: 253: 223:Lund Humphries 161:Royal Pavilion 144: 141: 116: 115: 30: 28: 21: 9: 6: 4: 3: 2: 1039: 1028: 1025: 1023: 1020: 1018: 1015: 1013: 1010: 1008: 1005: 1003: 1000: 999: 997: 988: 985: 982: 981: 976: 973: 970: 969: 964: 961: 958: 957: 952: 949: 948: 927: 923: 917: 901: 897: 891: 875: 871: 865: 858: 852: 836: 832: 825: 809: 805: 799: 783: 779: 772: 757: 756: 751: 744: 736: 732: 731:McLean, Ruari 726: 722: 714: 712: 704: 701: 698: 694: 693: 688: 676: 672: 669: 668: 663: 662: 657: 656: 651: 648: 644: 641: 640: 635: 632: 631: 626: 622: 621: 612: 609: 606: 603: 600: 597: 594: 591: 588: 585: 582: 579: 576: 573: 570: 567: 564: 561: 558: 555: 552: 549: 546: 543: 540: 537: 534: 531: 528: 525: 522: 519: 516: 513: 512: 506: 504: 500: 496: 492: 491:Gargoyle Club 487: 485: 484:Harling style 480: 478: 474: 473: 467: 457: 455: 449: 447: 443: 439: 435: 430: 428: 424: 420: 410: 408: 404: 400: 395: 391: 389: 385: 384: 383:Time and Tide 379: 375: 371: 367: 363: 353: 351: 347: 346:George Patton 343: 339: 335: 330: 328: 323: 321: 320:Mediterranean 317: 313: 309: 305: 301: 297: 293: 289: 285: 281: 276: 274: 273:Lord Delamere 270: 266: 262: 252: 250: 249: 244: 240: 236: 232: 228: 224: 220: 216: 212: 207: 205: 201: 197: 193: 189: 184: 182: 178: 177:Owen's School 174: 170: 166: 162: 158: 154: 150: 140: 138: 134: 130: 126: 122: 112: 109: 101: 90: 87: 83: 80: 76: 73: 69: 66: 62: 59: –  58: 54: 53:Find sources: 47: 43: 37: 36: 31:This article 29: 25: 20: 19: 16: 978: 966: 956:The Guardian 954: 930:. Retrieved 925: 916: 904:. Retrieved 899: 890: 878:. Retrieved 873: 864: 856: 855:Obituaries. 851: 839:. Retrieved 834: 824: 812:. Retrieved 807: 798: 786:. Retrieved 781: 771: 759:. Retrieved 755:The Guardian 753: 743: 734: 725: 708: 665: 659: 655:Sunday Times 653: 646: 637: 628: 610: 604: 598: 592: 586: 580: 574: 568: 562: 556: 550: 544: 538: 532: 526: 520: 514: 488: 483: 481: 469: 463: 453: 450: 433: 431: 416: 396: 392: 388:Lady Rhondda 381: 366:Lord Kemsley 362:Daily Sketch 359: 331: 324: 307: 277: 258: 246: 235:Kynoch Press 208: 196:letter-forms 185: 172: 164: 152: 146: 120: 119: 104: 95: 85: 78: 71: 64: 52: 40:Please help 35:verification 32: 15: 1007:2008 deaths 1002:1910 births 983:8 July 2008 971:3 July 2008 922:"Chisel LT" 896:"Tea Chest" 841:20 November 814:20 November 788:20 November 440:(on food), 332:On forming 284:O. M. Watts 261:Ian Fleming 231:Rudolf Koch 192:assay marks 181:London taxi 137:typographer 996:Categories 932:11 October 928:. Linotype 906:11 October 902:. 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Linotype 870:"Playbill" 810:: 95. 1940 717:References 636:Editor of 625:Condé Nast 623:Editor of 460:Later life 407:Condé Nast 280:Royal Navy 239:Birmingham 215:Daily Mail 98:March 2017 68:newspapers 968:The Times 837:: 290–301 472:Eric Gill 350:Magdeburg 342:Cherbourg 296:navigator 171:with his 169:Islington 975:Obituary 963:Obituary 951:Obituary 737:: 60–61. 642:(1961– ) 633:(1957– ) 479:(1987). 300:corvette 227:Bradford 219:printers 157:Brighton 149:Highbury 129:Godstone 926:MyFonts 900:MyFonts 874:MyFonts 835:Graphis 784:: 183–9 761:3 March 495:Suffolk 288:Dunkirk 243:the war 82:scholar 735:Matrix 649:(1940) 601:(1938) 589:(1945) 577:(1950) 565:(1952) 559:(1955) 547:(1958) 541:(1967) 529:(1976) 523:(1979) 503:Sussex 292:whaler 204:Oxford 133:Surrey 125:London 84:  77:  70:  63:  55:  682:Fonts 338:D-Day 298:of a 165:uncle 89:JSTOR 75:books 934:2015 908:2015 882:2015 843:2017 816:2017 790:2017 763:2017 499:Kent 399:Bond 386:for 364:for 318:and 173:aunt 153:aunt 61:news 977:in 965:in 953:in 432:At 429:). 237:at 225:at 44:by 998:: 924:. 898:. 872:. 833:. 806:. 780:. 752:. 664:, 658:, 390:. 251:. 206:. 131:, 936:. 910:. 884:. 845:. 818:. 792:. 765:. 677:. 501:- 111:) 105:( 100:) 96:( 86:· 79:· 72:· 65:· 38:.

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"Robert Harling" typographer
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London
Godstone
Surrey
typographer
Highbury
Brighton
Royal Pavilion
Islington
Owen's School
London taxi
Pears' Cyclopaedia
assay marks
letter-forms
Central School of Arts and Crafts
Oxford
Lamb's Conduit Street
Daily Mail
printers
Lund Humphries

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