Is it fated that two great masters were born on the same date or it is purely coincidence? Rudolf Hostettler was born in Zollikofen, Switzerland on June 8 1919 and Jost Hochuli was born in St.Gallen, on June 8 1933. Rudolf started his career as a compositor at the Hell printing. In 1941, Rudolf became an overseer at Feldegg AG printing company, Zurich. In 1943, He joined the Zollikofer & Co printing company, St Gallen where he worked for 37 years and after that, he formed his own company focusing on publication. One of his most profound books, The Printer's Terms, was published in 1949.
Jost hochuli studied at Kunstgewerbeschule in St.Gallen at 1952-1955. After he graduated, he had his practical training for three years at the Zollikofer & Co where he met Rudolf Hostettler. Rudolf became Jost's friend and a mentor as well. in 1958, Jost studied at Ecole Estienne and he established his company a year later and became a part time teacher at the Kunstgewerbeschule in St.Gallen.
Hostettler's abilities to see, listen, evaluate and understand various point of view, were the strength of his editorial activities. His generosity to help and give opportunity young typographer can be seen in Typografische Monatsblätter; one of the most prolific graphic design magazine.
On 1981, Hostettler passed away following a serious illness and on 1983, Typotron published a booklet, in memory of Rudolf Hostettler, designed and edited by Jost Hochulli.
"To keep up the memory of Rudolf Hostettler, and to make his work and his personality known to the younger generation of typographers and interested laymen, is the aim of this booklet." Jost Hochulli