Canned Typography poster – Cooper & Beatty, Jim Donoahue, 1971

For the title of this poster, designer Jim Donoahue used one of the film types from the Morgan Press collection of Headliners. Most of those alphabets did not have names and were ordered by number. The tin cans for this poster were supplied by John Sebert.

Notes

This is believed to be the second in what became known as the ‘collection series’ of posters designed by Jim Donoahue for Cooper & Beatty, Limited. The idea was simple; collect examples of type and lettering from non-typographic sources, whether it be antique tin cans, old three-dimensional sign letters or matchbook covers. Arrange them properly and then have them professionally photographed and printed. Donoahue knew that designers would be as interested in those letterforms as much as they were to typefaces – and he was right. All of the posters were much sought after and collected. He was always careful to keep the type, and the company, in the background. A lesson he may have learned from his first boss; Allan Fleming. – Rod McDonald

Artifact Text:

CANNED TYPOGRAPHY

Our thanks to John Sebert for the cans, Ray Webber for the photograph and Herzig Sommerville for the colour separations.

Cooper & Beatty, Limited

Category
Advertising and Promotion
Title
Canned Typography
Date
1971
Client
Cooper & Beatty, Limited
Credits
Design: Jim Donahue (1934–2022)
Typography: Cooper & Beatty, Limited
Principal Typefaces
Display: Headliners Morgan Press library; MP387
Text: Helvetica, Helvetica Bold
Description
Four-colour poster
Size: 18 × 24 inches
Region
Ontario
Languages
English
Number of images
1
Holding
Private collection of Albert Macchiusi
Artifact copyright: CTA was unable to clarify rights but welcomes contact from rightsholders to resolve permissions, if required, and will remove digitized works at the rightsholder’s request (rightsholders may contact CTA at copyright@canadiantypography.ca). CTA makes digitized works available for education and research. Responsibility for any use rests with the user.
Notes copyright: Notes accompanying artifacts are licenced under Creative Commons licensing CCbyNC which allows for non-commercial use with attribute.
More of the Morgan Press collection of wood types can be seen at:
https://www.peculiarmanicule.com/morgan-press-wood-type-catalog

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