Fonts In Use: Sun Gardens Cyanotypes Project
A book design honoring Victorian botanist Anna Atkins' pioneering cyanotype photography pairs contemporary sans-serif Mallory with historical King's Caslon revival to bridge 1840s subject matter with modern readability.
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TLDR
• Miko McGinty's 2018 design for Larry J. Schaaf's book about Anna Atkins' botanical cyanotypes
• Mallory (Frere-Jones Type) provides contemporary accessibility for body text
• King's Caslon (Dalton Maag) adds period-appropriate historical resonance
• Design strategy balances reverence for Victorian-era subject with modern usability
• Case study in typography for archival/historical publishing
In Detail
Miko McGinty's 2018 design for "Sun Gardens: Cyanotypes by Anna Atkins" by Larry J. Schaaf demonstrates how typography can honor historical subject matter while maintaining contemporary accessibility. The book features the pioneering botanical photography work of Anna Atkins from the 1840s, who used the cyanotype printing process to create detailed impressions of plant specimens.
McGinty's typeface choices create a dialogue between past and present. Mallory, a contemporary sans-serif from Frere-Jones Type, provides clean readability for modern readers while maintaining a refined, book-appropriate character. King's Caslon from Dalton Maag serves as the historical anchor - a revival typeface that echoes the Victorian era when Atkins created her groundbreaking work, adding period authenticity without sacrificing legibility.
This approach exemplifies thoughtful design for archival and historical content, where the typography must serve dual purposes: respecting the historical significance of the subject while ensuring the book functions effectively for contemporary readers. The pairing shows how designers can use typeface selection strategically to create temporal bridges in publishing.