Monday, November 4, 2013

Typography: Axel E. Sahlin


According to the Sweden, Indexed Birth Records, at Ancestry.com, Axel Edvard Sahlin was born October 13, 1877, in Lund. His parents were Nils Edvard Sahlin and Anna Anderberg. In 1911, Sahlin emigrated to the United States where his work caught the eyes of several graphic arts magazines.


September 1912

The Inland Printer
November 1912
Sahlin profile

The Printing Art
December 1912

To Axil Edw. Sahlin, East Aurora, N.Y., was awarded third prize in this month’s contest It will be recalled that Mr. Sahlin was also awarded first prize in the September contest His work is always interesting, the designs submitted this month being no exception. These are all advertisements from Elbert Hubbard’s magazine, The Fra, and possess much distinction. It is fair to presume that many of these were written by Mr. Hubbard, and into their typographic dress Mr. Sahlin has incorporated a style somewhat in keeping with the Hubbard fashion of advertisement writing. A characteristic example is here reproduced. This would have perhaps presented a better appearance if the outside rule border had been omitted. Nevertheless, it is an attractive, readable advertisement and one that is sure to be noticed. In its original form it was printed in two colors.

July 1913
Cover-Page Contest
Contestant: Sahlin, Axel E., East Aurora, N.Y.

Typography by Charles J. Rosen and Axel Edward Sahlin
W.H. Wise & Company, 1916

Buffalo Courier-Express
(New York)
July 31, 1916


World War I Draft Card
Sahlin signed his draft card on June 5, 1917. He resided in East Aurora, New York. Born in Lund, Sweden, October 13, 1877, he was a naturalized U.S. citizen. Sahlin was the composing room foreman at “The Roycrofters”. His description on the card was tall, slender, light blue eyes and light brown hair.


Buffalo Courier-Express
September 16, 1917


February 1919
Sahlin’s Typography, Volume Two, 1919


1920 U.S. Federal Census
Sahlin, his wife, Esther, and their daughter, Anna Greta, resided in East Aurora, New York, at 210 Willow Street. His occupation was printing shop foreman. According to the census, Esther emigrated in 1917, and Anna Greta was 14 months old.


Buffalo Courier-Express
May 22, 1920

May 22, 1920
Annual meeting of the Canadian Weekly Newspaper Association; June 3 afternoon address: “A Tallk on Typography,” A.E. Sahlin, typographical artist for the Roycroft Print Shops, East Aurora, N.Y.

The Pacific Printer
December 1920
 

The American Printer
August 5, 1921
Sahlin’s Typography

The American Printer
September 20 1921

The Inland Printer
October 1921
Sahlin’s Typography, Volume Four, 1921

The Inland Printer
January 1922

The Inland Printer
March 1922

September 5, 1922

Passenger List
Sahlin and his family returned from Copenhagen, Denmark, on September 4, 1922. A photograph of Sahlin, holding his son, and his father appeared in The American Printer, October 20, 1922 (below).


Typographer Returns from Abroad

Sahlin’s Typography
Volume 5, 1924

1925 New York State Census
Sahlin, his wife, daughter and son, Axel Jr., resided at 127 South Street in East Aurora, New York. Sahlin’s trade was typographical designer.


Buffalo Courier-Express
July 2, 1925

Buffalo Courier-Express
July 8, 1925

1926 copyright

Buffalo Courier-Express
June 26, 1927

Buffalo Courier-Express
February 23, 1928

Buffalo Courier-Express
February 24, 1928


1930 U.S. Federal Census
Sahlin‘s home was in Tonawanda, New York at 29 Linden Avenue. He was a printer at a printing company.

Passenger List
Sahlin and his family returned from Gothenburg, Denmark, on September 1, 1930.


Buffalo Courier-Express
June 10, 1938

Buffalo Courier-Express
July 11, 1939


1940 U.S. Federal Census
Sahlin and his family remained at the sane 1930 address. According to the census, Sahlin’s highest level of education was the seventh grade. He was a self-employed typographer and his son was an apprentice typographer.


Buffalo Courier-Express
July 14, 1940

Buffalo Courier-Express
October 20, 1940

Buffalo Courier-Express
May 4, 1945

Buffalo Courier-Express
August 12, 1945

Buffalo Courier-Express
September 13, 1945


Passenger List
Sahlin and his wife returned from Gothenburg, Denmark, on August ?, 1947.


Buffalo Courier-Express
December 11, 1949

Buffalo Courier-Express
May 18, 1955

Buffalo Courier-Express
March 9, 1956
Death Notice

Sahlin—Axel E. Sahlin of 50 Rankin Rd., Synder, March 8, 1956, beloved husband of Esther Kristerson Sahlin; father of Mrs. Graydon Grinnell and the late Axel E. Sahlin Jr.; grandfather of Terry Lee Grinnell; son of Anna Sahlin of Malmo, Sweden; brother of Emil Sahlin, Mrs. Signe Darling of East Aurora and Anna Carlson and Hudda Hansson, both of Sweden. Friends may call at the Bury Funeral Home, 3070 Delaware, corner Kinsey, where funeral services will be held Saturday afternoon at 3 o’clock. Friends are invited. Mr. Sahlin was a member of Blazing Star Lodge, 694, F.&A.M., East Aurora, East Aurora Chapter 282, R.A.M., Swedish Club of Buffalo and Buffalo Club of Printing House Craftsmen.



Buffalo Courier-Express
March 9, 1956
Obituary

Axel E. Sahlin, 68, owner of the Sahlin Typographic Service, 296 Delaware Ave., who had learned typography from the late Elbert Hubbard, died yesterday in Buffalo General Hospital. He lived at 50 Rankin Rd., Snyder.
Mr. Sahlin became a pupil of Hubbard’s in his Roycroft Shops in East Aurora after coming to this country at the age of 23 from his native Malmo, Sweden.
He established the business bearing his name about 25 years ago.
Active in Swedish cultural activities here, he had served as president from 1942 through 1944 of the Swedish Club of Buffalo.
His other activities included membership in the Buffalo Club of Printing House Craftsmen, Blazing Star Lodge of Masons of East Aurora, and East Aurora Chapter of Royal Arch Masons.
Survivors are his wife, the former Esther Kristerson; a daughter. Mrs. Graydon Grinnell; his mother, Mrs. Anna Sahlin of Malmo; a brother, Emil. and three sisters. Mrs. Signe Darling of East Aurora and Mrs. Anna Carlson and Mrs. Hulda Hansson of Sweden.
The Rev. Russell Swanson of Trinity Augustana Lutheran Church will conduct services at 3 tomorrow afternoon in the Bury Funeral Home, 3070 Delaware Ave., Kenmore. Burial will be in Elmlawn Cemetery, of Tonawanda.

June 1956
Axel Sahlin, Typographical and Layout Specialist, Dies
Axel E. Sahlin, 68, owner of the Axel Edw. Sahlin Typographic Service, Buffalo, N.Y., died recently. He was a nationally-known typographic artist. He served his printing apprenticeship in Sweden in his father’s shop and worked in several book printing plants there. He came to the United States in 1911 and went to work for Elbert Hubbard in the Roycroft Shops in East Aurora, N.Y. He rose from typographer to foreman, then to superintendent of typesetting, and later became a typographical and layout specialist.
Mr. Sahlin had designed extraordinary books, some costing as high as $1,000 each. He had won 22 prizes in this and other countries for his work. Mr. Sahlin established the business bearing his name about 25 years ago. He was a member of the Buffalo Club of Printing House Craftsmen. The craftsmen he trained throughout the years will continue the business. A brother, Emil Georg Sahlin, is also nationally known as a typographic artist, and has won several Printing Week poster and stamp contests.



Buffalo Courier-Express
March 10, 1957


Works by Axel Sahlin are here and here.

(Next post on Monday: IF)

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