EXEMPLA GRAPHICA
[International Show of Work by Seventy-eight Commercial Artists of the Alliance Graphique International]
Manuel Gasser and Heiri Steiner

[AGI] Manuel Gasser (text), Heiri Steiner (designer): EXEMPLA GRAPHICA. Achtundsiebzig Grafiker der Alliance Graphique Internationale zeigen achtundsiebzig Arbeiten [International Show of Work by Seventy-eight Commercial Artists of the Alliance Graphique International]. Zurich: Hug & Söhne Zürich AG in cooperation with the AGI, n.d. (ca. 1965). First edition. Text in German. A fine hardcover book bound in full decorated cloth in a fine dust jacket that is housed in the publishers original shipping cardboard slipcase: a truly stunning copy! Interior unmarked and very clean. Out-of -print. Dust jacket design stamped and printed on cloth boards.

10x 12.25 hardcover book with 176 pages and profusely illustrated with color work examples from 78 AGI designers. Published as a catalogue for an AGI exhibition, it is hardly surprising that this is a beautifully designed and printed book. Highly recommended.

This volume consists of profiles of 78 AGI members with work samples. The following designers are represented by a two-page spread with a short vitae, b/w mugshot and work sample(s): AUSTRIA: Georg Schmidt; BELGIUM: Jacques Richez, Michel Olyff; FRANCE: Pierre Boucher, Jacques Dubois, Roger Excoffon, Andre Francois, Guy Georget, Marcel Jacno, Jacques Nathan, Remy Peignot, Jean Picard Le Doux, Raymond Savignac, Ronald Searle, Bernard Villemot; GERMANY: Anton Stankowski, Karl Oskar Blase, Walter Breker, Heinz Edelmann, Hermann Eidenbenz, Hans Hillmann, Gunther Lieser, ENGLAND: Milner Gray, Tom Eckersley, Ashley Havinden, F. H. K. Henrion, George Him, Pat Keely, Hans Schleger; ISRAEL: Jean David; ITALY: Giovanni pintori, Erberto Carboni, Eugenio Carmi, Franco Grignani, Leo Lionni, Riccardo manzi, Albe Steiner; JAPAN: Minato-ku, Yoshio Hayakawa, Hiroshi Ohchi: HOLLAND: Wim Crouwel, Jan Bons, Willem Sandberg, Otto Treumann; POLAND: Jan Lenica; SPAIN: J. Pia-Narbona; SWEDEN: Lars Bramberg, Olle Eksell, Stig Lindberg, John Melin, Anders Osterlin; SWITZERLAND: Donald Brun, Hans Erni, Hnas Falk, Herbert Leupin, Josef Muller-Brockmann, Celestino Piatti, Heiri Steiner, Hugo Wetli, Kurt Wirth; UNITED STATES: Will Burtin, Walter Allner, Saul Bass, Herbert Bayer, Lester Beall, Jospeh Binder, Rudolph de Harak, George Giusti, Milton Glaser, Matthew Leibowitz, Paul Rand, Bradbury Thompson and George Tscherney.

For those of you unfamiliar with the AGI, here is how they describe themselves and their mission on their website: "The AGI unites the worldıs leading graphics designers and artists in a professional club of common interest and achievement. It is an élite club. Its members have been collectively responsible for the identity design of most of the world's top corporations and institutions as well as for countless examples of globally known packaging, publications, illustration and posters."

"The AGI holds exhibitions of members work which are highly influential in disseminating new forms, techniques and ideas. There is a book publishing programme based on the thoughts and works of members. There are contacts with colleges and schools, government bodies and commercial institutes, all aimed at promoting graphic design and visual literacy." 

"In the 1940s, commercial artists, mural makers, typographers, printmakers, art directors, illustrators and poster designers increasingly realised their common bonds, and the modern profession of graphic design began to be defined. In 1951, five graphic artists ­ two Swiss and three French ­ decided to formalise their relationship into some sort of association. Their idea was simply to share common interests and friendships across national and cultural borders. "

"It was a notion that soon attracted leading exponents of the graphic arts from elsewhere in Europe and in the USA. In 1952 the Alliance Graphique Internationale was incorporated in Paris with 65 members from 10 countries. The first AGI exhibition was held in Paris in 1955 and in 1969 the headquarters moved from Paris to Zurich. Student seminars were introduced in 1979 and the first Young Professional AGI Congress was held in London in 1994."

"Membership of the AGI requires reputation and achievement of the highest order and commitment to the processes of visual learning and perception, unfettered by cultural differences. The AGI remains dedicated to the universal aspect of graphic design as a means of communication and information, and its ideals remain relevant to the new world of visual literacy which its members have helped to bring about. "

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