Orbit Oblique

writer Stephen Banham publisher Letterbox

Orbit Oblique is a typographic tribute to non-humans lost in space research between 1949–1990. During this cold war period the space-race between USA and Russia involved the launching of dozens of unwilling participants including primates, dogs, cats, rats, frogs, worms, spiders, fish and even fruit flies. Most were never seen again.

The first of the Oblique series, this book and accompanying exhibition pays homage to their noble sacrifice, each page designed as a lost notice for that particular lost soul. This limited edition book features a letterpress printed cover and hand-stitched binding, and is one of the very few printed type samplers produced Australian type designers.

Orbit Oblique was accompanied by a concurrent exhibition of the same name at Craft Victoria.