Charles Ernest Riddiford was a British cartographer, who spent most of his career at the National Geographic magazine.[1][2] He was noted for the elegant use of typography in his works, embraced the challenges of photocomposition and photographic reproduction, and recognised the subliminal impact of the medium on the way information is accepted.[3]
Life
editRiddiford was born in UK, and after studying in Edinburgh, travelled to America in 1923.[3] He worked at the National Geographic Society, within their Cartographic division.[3] From 1923 to 1959, he was a Staff Cartographer.[1][4]
Riddiford lived in Washington, D.C.
He retired in 1959,[5] and died in 1968, aged 71. His obituary appeared in the Washington Post, May 15, 1968.[citation needed]
Works
editRiddiford's work was often featured in National Geographic magazine.[4] He worked under chief cartographer Albert H. Bumstead.[2]
In the mid-1930s, while at National Geographic Society, he was commissioned to produce a series of typefaces for maps.[6] Digitised versions of his typefaces are in current use in the publication.[2][6] The typefaces are noted for being both attractive and exceptionally legible.[6] Although designed for photo-reproduction, the typefaces feature calligraphic traits, with line weights varying as if produced by an angled broad nib.[2]
Riddiford contributed to the magazine The Professional Geographer in September 1952, commenting on how the aesthetic appeal of a work has a profound impact on its acceptance.[7] This significantly pre-dates The medium is the message.
In 1954, Riddiford invented a collapsible globe, with an umbrella-like mechanism.[8]
Riddiford's work is held in several museums and libraries.[9][10][11]
References
edit- ^ a b The History of Cartography, Volume 6, Cartography in the 20th century (PDF). UoChicago. p. 9. Retrieved 2022-01-14.
- ^ a b c d Stamp, Jimmy. "The Secret to National Geographic's Maps Is an 80-Year-Old Font". Smithsonian Magazine. Retrieved 2022-12-04.
- ^ a b c "Charles Ernest Riddiford, Cartographer | Glover Park History". gloverparkhistory.com. Retrieved 2022-01-14.
- ^ a b "100 Years of National Geographic Maps: The Art and Science of Where". Science. National Geographic Society. 23 January 2015. Archived from the original on March 9, 2021.
- ^ "National Geographic Society". luc.devroye.org. Retrieved 2022-09-10.
- ^ a b c "National Geographic's Cartographic Typefaces". Maps. 10 December 2014. Archived from the original on April 19, 2022.
- ^ Riddiford, Charles E. (September 1952). "On the Lettering of Maps". The Professional Geographer. 4 (5): 7–10. doi:10.1111/j.0033-0124.1952.045_7.x. ISSN 0033-0124. Retrieved 2022-09-10.
- ^ "World on a Stick". The Aransas Pass Progress. 1954-12-09. Retrieved 2022-09-10.
- ^ "Search Results | Library Hub". discover.libraryhub.jisc.ac.uk. Retrieved 2022-09-10.
- ^ "A modern pilgrim's map of the British Isles". digital.library.cornell.edu. Retrieved 2022-09-10.
- ^ "Theater of war in the Pacific Ocean". National Library of Australia. National Geographic Society. Retrieved 2022-09-19.