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Toronto-based M.C. Charters and Company Limited, founded by Morris Charters in 1922, had a rich heritage in the art of engraving for print — a craft that was considered traditional even by 1966. Following Morris’s passing in 1965, his sons, Ken and Don, inherited the business. At the time, the company’s steel engraving department was among the ten largest in North America. Fueled by newfound enthusiasm, the brothers began to steer the company towards more innovative applications of engraving, beyond traditional uses. This included techniques such as blind embossing and hot leaf stamping (foiling), which garnered widespread acclaim from stationers, graphic designers, agencies, and art directors. This promotional brochure was created to showcase and celebrate these creative engraving services, keeping the art of engraving alive with a modern twist.

The brochure boasts an interesting square roll-fold design. It comprises eight main pages, enhanced by two additional four-page sections, one of which is elegantly printed on tracing paper, stitched within to offer readers a multi-layered experience. The cover stands out with vibrant blue and fluorescent yellow inks and has an almost screen printed tactile finish. The interior primarily features black ink, except for the ‘print techniques’ pages, adorned with large numerals (1 to 4) rendered in vertical, horizontal, and diagonal lines of uniform stroke weight in blue, yellow, and red inks. Toward the back, two pages showcase a photographic collage, providing an insightful glimpse into the world of printing and print finishing through images taken around the factory in the 1960s.

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