Corvus Works

Corvus Works is the design studio and workshop of Christopher Wakeling, typographic designer and printer. The practice works with metal type and letterpress printing machines to design, print and publish limited books and ephemeral work for itself and others – in collaboration and commission. The typography for the editions is always composed by hand, using typefaces from the Works’ extensive collection of European foundry-cast types. The use of cotton rag papers and oil based inks follows the historical methodology of fine press printers. Most, but not all binding work is completed in the workshop. Publications by Corvus Works can be found in institutional collections from the Grolier Club in New York, to the Rare and Special Collections Library at Edinburgh University who hold an archive of its complete output. Type used in the workshop of Corvus Works includes a considerable quantity of Continental foundry type, in particular Hermann Zapf’s Optima, Palatino (including Michelangelo and Sistina), Hunt Roman, Virtuosa and Gilgengart, Zapf’s first typeface, along with Jan Tschichold’s Sabon-Antiqua, and a substantial quantity of Walbaum type, from 10 point to 60 point. In addition to the printing types, a number of ornaments and border elements are kept in various designs including the rare designs of Hermann Zapf:  Attika Borders and Künstler-linien (brush rules).

Collection

• Korrex Hannover hand operated test press (1964)

• Schelter & Geisecke Phoenix IV hand-fed parallel art platen (c.1903)