UK company Graphic Systems International Ltd. was founded in
1966 by Gary
Gillot and Bill Harman, both former Letraset managers [Daines,
Gillot].
Launched a dry-transfer lettering product named Rapitype in
c. 1970 [Mosley].
Distinguished from Letraset by being
produced entirely photographic [Design
no. 305], and the first dry-transfer product to be heat
resistant [Education,
vol. 147 no. 12]. In 1972 the library comprised 20 typefaces
[Ariadne].
Over 1,200 sheets available in 1976 [Printing
Trades Journal, no.
1067]. Distributed internationally by Monotype from 1976
[Printing
Trades Journal, no.
1069]. Graphic Systems were also agents for US
dry-transfer manufacturer Zipatone [Simmonds].
Alan
Meeks began his type design career at Graphic Systems in 1970
and later joined Letraset as senior type designer [MyFonts].
Colin More…
UK company Graphic Systems International Ltd. was founded in 1966 by Gary Gillot and Bill Harman, both former Letraset managers [Daines, Gillot]. Launched a dry-transfer lettering product named Rapitype in c. 1970 [Mosley]. Distinguished from Letraset by being produced entirely photographic [Design no. 305], and the first dry-transfer product to be heat resistant [Education, vol. 147 no. 12]. In 1972 the library comprised 20 typefaces [Ariadne]. Over 1,200 sheets available in 1976 [Printing Trades Journal, no. 1067]. Distributed internationally by Monotype from 1976 [Printing Trades Journal, no. 1069]. Graphic Systems were also agents for US dry-transfer manufacturer Zipatone [Simmonds].
Alan Meeks began his type design career at Graphic Systems in 1970 and later joined Letraset as senior type designer [MyFonts]. Colin Brignall was on staff from 1971 to 1974. Tony Crook was director in 1974 [Design no. 305].
Not to be confused with US company Graphic Systems Inc., nor with the Rapitype-N stencil product by Mason Marking Systems Corp.
