Jan Tschichold: Penguins, paperbacks and posters

Born in 1902, the son of a provincial sign painter, Tschichold originally trained as a calligrapher. In 1923, he graduated from the Academy for Graphic Arts and Book Production in Leipzig and dedicated the next 60 years or so to typography and book design. This photograph was taken around 1926 Photograph: Kurt Schwitters/Thames and Hudson

A poster designed by Tschichold in 1927 for the film Casanova, directed by Alexandre Volkoff. Dominated by powerful diagonals and expressive geometry, it clearly shows the influence of Russian modernism Photograph: Thames and Hudson

The Woman Without a Name, Part II, another film poster designed by Tschichold in 1927 Photograph: Thames and Hudson

Published in 1928, Tschichold's The New Typography became one of the most significant books in its field, enshrining his philosophy of sans-serif typography, photography and asymmetrical layout. This is an advertising brochure designed by Tschichold the following year Photograph: Max Burchartz/Thames and Hudson

Before ... Saki's When William Came as published by Penguin in 1941. Designed by Edward Young, this was the original Penguin cover as Tschichold found it Photograph: Penguin/Thames and Hudson

During ... The cover of Selected Letters by DH Lawrence, designed by Tschichold in 1950, his second draft for Penguin, which preserved Young's basic grid but made subtle adjustments - notably the use of Gill Sans throughout and a redesigned logo Photograph: Penguin/Thames and Hudosn

... and after. This 1950 edition of The Great Gatsby features subtle modifications, including a descriptive tag line and elegantly reworked typography Photograph: Penguin /Thames and Hudson

Sabon Next LT Regular, a serif font designed by Tschichold in 1967 along classical lines Photograph: Thames and Hudson

Cover of Jan Tschichold, Master Typographer: His life, work and legacy. Published by Thames and Hudson, 2008 Photograph: Thames and Hudson