What is graphic nostalgia?

Well, I think it’s something like this. Below is my well-thumbed copy of the A to Z. It has been in the boots of my various cars for yonks. Now I have always hated Albertus. What? ‘Hate’ Albertus, sacrilege. Let me explain. One of my earliest jobs was assisting and elderly ‘commercial artist’ at a small studio in Ludgate Circus, London. He seemed ancient to me (I’m probably his age now) and always wore a suite -mostly tweed- with a waistcoat and tie. I was young, frustrated and wanted to be let loose on anything that was going to be printed. I’d say ‘Could we use Standard Medium on this?’ The response was always the same. ‘No I think Albertus would be better’. To me Albertus represented a typographical straight jacket. But suddenly now, looking at this well thrummed cover, I like it, and the utter directness of the design. Funny old world.