Johann Friedrich Unger was a prominent German publisher, printer and wood engraver based in Berlin. Over his life span of 1753-1804 he gained a reputation as typographical artist, printer and publisher across Germany and beyond. He is most famous for the new Gothic font he designed named 'Ungerfraktur' in 1793. Ungerfraktur was a Gothic font different to existing fonts of this style as it was much lighter. He is also famous for his stylish printing and the ornamentation he used.
Unger published many famous works of literature including some of the work of German writer Johann Wolfgang Von Goethe, a key figure in the 'Romantik' movement in literature and creator of the term 'World Literature.' Unger and Goethe had a very good working relationship and Goethe is known to have written about the importance of a "balance between author and publisher." Another well known piece published by Unger is the Shakespeare translations by A.W.Schlegel.
In November 1779 he requested to found a printing press, owners of existing presses disapproved saying that this was unnecessary and too expensive. Despite this Unger received the privilege to set up his print foundry in 1791. After his death in 1804 Unger's wife, Friedrike Helene Unger whom he had collaborated with throughout his career, took charge of his printing and publishing house which was heavily in dept. Unfortunately she was unable to salvage it nor could she persuade the new university to acquire it.
In Unger's later life he was appointed as a professor of Xylography (the art of wood engraving) at the Academy of Fine Arts in Berlin.
Bibliography:
Goethe and His Publishers — Siegfried Unseld 1996
http://www.linotype.com/5346/johannfriedrichunger.html
Nicola Price
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