The Woman Upstairs by Claire Messud (TOC6)

Published April 22, 2024

Contributed by TypeMates

At TOC, everything revolves around books. Not just any books, but very special books. Their books are printed in limited editions, signed, numbered and individually adapted to the content. Believing that excellent literature deserves great appreciation, TOC uses only the finest materials and the most sophisticated printing techniques to produce its letterpress books. TOC blends modern typography with the centuries-old craft of book printing.

Although traditional letterpress printing provides a pleasant analogue reading experience, its high costs make it impractical for modern book production. To avoid those costs, TOC uses an in-house laser to transfer entire computer layouts onto polymer plates. These plates are then printed by hand, one page at a time, on a Heidelberg cylinder press, which was historically used for letterpress printing. This unique combination of digital technology and traditional craftsmanship results in a one-of-a-kind reading experience. The philosophy is also reflected in the TOC books, which are complemented by typeface Franziska.

No wonder that Erik Spiekermann was excited about Franziska back in 2013. He immediately brought it to FontFont as one of his favorite typefaces for text. A few years later, he gives Franziska a new task: letterpress. The typeface accomplishes the task brilliantly with the sixth volume in the series, The Woman Upstairs by Claire Messud. Spiekermann’s (and Ralph du Carrois) very own FF Real is used for chapter openings and footer.