citation for the United Jewish Appeal, NY, 1980Born in Germany in 1910, Ismar David studied at the Berlin Municipal school of Arts and Crafts and immigrated to Israel in 1932 where he opened a studio for graphic and interior design. in 1953 moved to New York, where he established his studio specializing in calligraphy, lettering, illustration and book design. David also taught calligraphy at the Cooper Union till 1991.
broadside RN Magazine, NJ, 1971In 1953 Ismar David released one of the most important Hebrew typefaces, David:
David Hebrew font family, 1954Zapf wrote about him: The work of Ismar David can always be identified by his characteristic style. [...] His expressive drawings, with their undulating linear quality and unusual construction, show his elegant style in every detail.
Peace Blessing, poster, 1976