SCHILLER’S MACHINE AGE: AN UNPUBLISHED ARCHIVE

Schiller, Albert (1898–1970) ; Mundell, E. H. [Compiler/Editor]

Albert Schiller’s Machine Age Art: An Unpublished Monograph Project Archive [Typography & Type Pictures] [Manuscript & Research Files] [RIT/Cary Collection Context]

A substantial and intellectually coherent research and production archive documenting the 'type picture' methodology of Albert Schiller, assembled for a comprehensive monograph that remained largely unpublished.

The archive is anchored by a 163-page typed manuscript and advanced proof sheets attributed to bibliographer E. H. Mundell, intended to codify Schiller’s philosophy of 'Machine Age Art.' By treating standard printer’s ornaments as modular 'prefabricated pen strokes,' Schiller created complex pictorial compositions that bridged the gap between industrial printing and fine art.

This archive preserves the full lifecycle of that work, incorporating Schiller’s own technical essays, original photography of the artist at work, and institutional exhibition records from the Cary Graphic Arts Collection at RIT.

KEY FEATURES
+++ Visuals: Four original black-and-white 8x10 inch photographic prints with accompanying negatives, depicting Schiller in the shop and teaching; original [signed] portrait drawing; and numerous illustrated proof sheets.
+++ Manuscripts: 163-page typed manuscript (rectos only); 53 pages of additional biographical typescripts; and a 12-page formatted opening section in proof-state.
+++ Content: Extensive technical and philosophical writings by Schiller, including his 'An Ancient and Honorable Art' (1956), with critical contributions and correspondence references to Ward Ritchie, Carl Purington Rollins, and Ben Lieberman.
+++ Imprint: Materials primarily from the Portage, Indiana research circle, c. 1970s–1980s, documenting a project by 'The Compulsive Printer.'
+++ Provenance: Research files once utilized for institutional exhibition and study, featuring Ben Lieberman (RIT) editorial markers and Cary Collection ephemera.
+++ Specs: Housed in working folders; includes business cards ('Expeco' imprint), exhibition invitations, and original newspaper clippings.

CONDITION Overall Grade: Very Good.
The materials are well-preserved and reflect their origin as a 'working' research file. The typescripts and photocopied proofs are clean and highly legible, many reproducing the original editorial markings and layout corrections. The original photographic prints remain crisp with strong tonal range, though some exhibit minor handling wear and verso annotations. Ephemera—including the Cary Collection invitation and 'Expeco' business card—is in excellent condition. Housed in contemporary folders consistent with scholarly use.

SCHOLARLY FEATURES
+++ The 'Ghost' Monograph: Provides a unique opportunity to study a 'near-miss' in design historiography; the Mundell project represents the most ambitious attempt to formalize Schiller’s legacy.
+++ Typographic Philosophy: Documents the transition of 19th-century printer’s ornaments into 20th-century 'Modernist' modular units, a precursor to digital vector aesthetics.
+++ Institutional Nexus: Connects Schiller’s commercial work to the high-academic circles of RIT and the Cary Graphic Arts Collection through the involvement of Ben Lieberman.

HISTORICAL SIGNIFICANCE —
Albert Schiller was a visionary typographer who redefined the 'Machine Age' by using the very tools of mass production—movable type and ornaments—to create unique, labor-intensive pictorial art. His 'type pictures' were not mere curiosities; they were sophisticated examinations of how technology and tradition could merge.

This archive matters because it captures the moment in the 1970s when the 'Private Press' revival and the academic study of typography began to canonize figures like Schiller. The presence of E. H. Mundell (a rigorous bibliographer) and references to Ward Ritchie suggest that this project was intended to be the definitive scholarly shield for Schiller’s reputation.

That the project remained unpublished makes this archive a primary 'Gap-Fill' for researchers. It contains the only known assembly of Schiller’s scattered writings, biographical drafts, and process photography in a single, organized unit.

SUBJECTS: Typography, Printing History, Machine-Age Design, Graphic Arts Education, Type Pictures, RIT / Cary Collection, Fine Press Movement, GENRES: Research Archive, Unpublished Manuscript, Design History, Ephemera.

Item #21855

Price: $1,850.00