Charles Ernest Riddiford was a British

cartographer Cartography (; from grc, χάρτης , "papyrus, sheet of paper, map"; and , "write") is the study and practice of making and using maps. Combining science, aesthetics and technique, cartography builds on the premise that reality (or an im ...

, who spent most of his career at the ''

National Geographic ''National Geographic'' (formerly the ''National Geographic Magazine'', sometimes branded as NAT GEO) is a popular American monthly magazine published by National Geographic Partners. Known for its photojournalism, it is one of the most widely ...

'' magazine. He was noted for the elegant use of typography in his works, embraced the challenges of photocomposition and photographic reproduction, and recognised the subliminal impact of the medium on the way information is accepted.

Life

Riddiford was born in UK, and after studying in Edinburgh, travelled to America in 1923. He worked at the

National Geographic Society The National Geographic Society (NGS), headquartered in Washington, D.C., United States, is one of the largest non-profit scientific and educational organizations in the world. Founded in 1888, its interests include geography, archaeology, and ...

, within their Cartographic division. From 1923 to 1959, he was a Staff Cartographer. Riddiford lived in Washington, D.C. He retired in 1959, and died in 1968, aged 71. His obituary appeared in the ''Washington Post'', May 15, 1968.

Works

Riddiford's work was often featured in ''

'' magazine. He worked under chief cartographer Albert H. Bumstead. In the mid-1930s, while at National Geographic Society, he was commissioned to produce a series of typefaces for maps. Digitised versions of his typefaces are in current use in the publication. The typefaces are noted for being both attractive and exceptionally legible. Although designed for photo-reproduction, the typefaces feature

calligraphic Calligraphy (from el, link=y, καλλιγραφία) is a visual art related to writing. It is the design and execution of lettering with a pen, ink brush, or other writing instrument. Contemporary calligraphic practice can be defined as ...

traits, with line weights varying as if produced by an angled broad nib. Riddiford contributed to the magazine ''

The Professional Geographer ''The Professional Geographer'' is a quarterly peer-reviewed academic journal publishing short articles on all aspects of geography. The journal is published by Taylor and Francis on behalf of the American Association of Geographers. According to t ...

'' in September 1952, commenting on how the aesthetic appeal of a work has a profound impact on its acceptance. This significantly pre-dates ''

The medium is the message "The medium is the message" is a phrase coined by the Canadian communication theorist Marshall McLuhan and the name of the first chapter in his '' Understanding Media: The Extensions of Man'', published in 1964.Originally published in 1964 by Men ...

''. In 1954, Riddiford invented a collapsible globe, with an umbrella-like mechanism. Riddiford's work is held in several museums and libraries.

References

{{DEFAULTSORT:Riddiford, Charles 1890s births 1968 deaths British cartographers National Geographic people British emigrants to the United States