Nicholas Kis: A Hungarian Punch-Cutter and Printer (1650-1702).

The Hungarian Nicholas Kis came to type design through his desire to print the Bible in Hungarian. He learned to cut punches and create types for printing in Holland. His printing is not particularly distinguished, but his types have endured. They are direct, legible, and imbued with the personality of their creator. Perhaps “no-nonsense” is the best way to describe Kis’ work. 

For a long time it was Kis’ misfortune to have his work attributed to someone else: the typefounder Anton Janson was credited with the cutting of these popular types. George Buday and Harry Carter set the record straight in the 1950s.