Know the Game pamphlets
Rounders, 1957, ft. lettering for the issue title, Ultra Bodoni Italic for the series titles, Gill Sans for the smaller text and Grotesque No. 9 for the price info
Covers from the Know the Game series, published between 1950 and 1990 by Educational Productions in the UK. In a time before the internet, the series was an essential resource for anyone looking to participate in sports and other recreational activities. The pamphlets were cheaply printed in two to three colors and highly affordable: just 25 to 45 British pence each (around $2.25 to $5 in modern US currency). Despite being published as a unified series, each issue was produced in collaboration with a recognized sporting club or association—from the British Sub-Aqua Club to the Royal Meteorological Society—to ensure the most up to date rules and regulations were included.
A range of typefaces are utilized across the series, with covers from the 1950 to 1960 also featuring lettering, and those from the 1980 to 1990 using everything from Dempsey to Herkules. The mid-1960s pamphlet designs seem to cohere around a consistent use of Monotype Grotesque, and those from the 1970s settle on tightly tracked Helvetica for titles. While the “Know the Game” title is initially written out in a variety of typefaces, later versions feature a logo set in Condensed Sans Serif No. 6 (“KTG”) accompanied by a lighter weight of either Monotype Grotesque or Helvetica (“know the game”). By the late 1970s, “KTG” was changed to the slightly wider Grotesque No. 9.
From a design perspective, it’s interesting to watch the shift in covers from highly individualized to a more standardized and branded “KTG” format over time. Topically, it’s also fascinating what recreational activities merited coverage in which era; angling in 1953 vs. tabletop role-playing in 1976.
Archery, 1971 reprint of a 1960 edition, ft. letterspaced caps from Grotesque No. 9, with Monotype Grotesque Light 126 for the series title, as well as Gill Sans Condensed and Italic, and Univers
Angling, 1964, ft. lettering and Gill Sans in two weights
Badminton, 1965, ft. Monotype Grotesque Bold 216 (and Folio Light?). See Tânia Raposo’s post for pics of the interior.
Map Reading, 1965, with more Monotype Grotesque and Gill Sans
Life Saving, 1967, ft. Monotype Grotesque. The KTG logo appears to pair Condensed Sans Serif No. 6 and a lighter weight of Monotype Grotesque.
Modelmaking, 1967, from the spinoff series Know the Craft, ft. Monotype Grotesque
Sailing, 1973, ft. Helvetica. The KTG logo in Condensed Sans Serif No. 6 is now accompanied by a lighter weight of Helvetica.
Netball, 1976, with Helvetica
A later edition of Map Reading (probably late 1970s), now with Helvetica.
Wargaming, 1978, ft. Helvetica
Darts, 1978, ft. Goudy Heavyface. The KTG logo now seems to use the slightly wider Grotesque No. 9. Monotype Grotesque is back for “know the game”.
Men’s Hockey, 1984, ft. Dempsey
Weight Lifting, 1986, ft. Frankfurter Medium and Univers
