Hi typophiles,
I need help by a type expert for the indentification
of a historical british fontface from 1864. I‘m in doubt
that these types are available digitaly....
All tips are welcome.
I would say this is a condensed version of Scotch Roman, which was first designed in the 1830's and became one of the most widely used English typefaces in the 19th century. I have not seen any condensed digital versions, but it was the common practice to develop various widths, weights and point sizes for popular typefaces.
Nick Shinn's excellent Scotch Modern is a re-creation of an 1873 version, which actually looks closer to your sample than digital Scotch Romans. The G is especially closer in shape. However, Nick's font does not have a condensed weight.
I don't think the specimens shown early in that book are Caslon, as we usually know it. If I read the introduction correctly those samples are called Modern. Henry Caslon is not the same as William Caslon, who was the type designer whose typefaces were the classics we know.
I admit to not being expert enough to sort this out, but I don't believe the posted samples are Caslon.
Hi Mike, good to make the distinction.
I was referring to the Caslon Foundry, not William Caslon I himself.
In 1829 Caslon IV sells the foundry to Blake, Garnett & Co. Later renamed to Blake & Stephenson, and later renamed again to Stephenson, Blake & Co. But they always keep operating under the Caslon foundry name.
They also acquired lots of smaller foundries, so I guess that this 'Modern Compressed Capitals' must belong to one of those smaller foundries. But they where being sold by the Caslon Foundry.
> "Caslon, as we usually know it"
Yep... but even then, what we usually know today is a mix of lots of different Caslons, including the 'American' Caslon cuts by ATF.
19 Nov 2012 — 7:55am
I would say this is a condensed version of Scotch Roman, which was first designed in the 1830's and became one of the most widely used English typefaces in the 19th century. I have not seen any condensed digital versions, but it was the common practice to develop various widths, weights and point sizes for popular typefaces.
Nick Shinn's excellent Scotch Modern is a re-creation of an 1873 version, which actually looks closer to your sample than digital Scotch Romans. The G is especially closer in shape. However, Nick's font does not have a condensed weight.
The American typeface DeVinne is also similar
- Mike Yanega
19 Nov 2012 — 11:20pm
London? 1864?
It must be from (the) Caslon (foundry).
Here they are:
Compressed Capitals, from the 1841 Henry Caslon Specimen of Printing Types
http://books.google.com.ar/books?id=LVsJAAAAQAAJ&printsec=frontcover&sou...
You can also download the PDF
19 Nov 2012 — 8:00pm
I don't think the specimens shown early in that book are Caslon, as we usually know it. If I read the introduction correctly those samples are called Modern. Henry Caslon is not the same as William Caslon, who was the type designer whose typefaces were the classics we know.
I admit to not being expert enough to sort this out, but I don't believe the posted samples are Caslon.
- Mike Yanega
19 Nov 2012 — 10:52pm
Hi Mike, good to make the distinction.
I was referring to the Caslon Foundry, not William Caslon I himself.
In 1829 Caslon IV sells the foundry to Blake, Garnett & Co. Later renamed to Blake & Stephenson, and later renamed again to Stephenson, Blake & Co. But they always keep operating under the Caslon foundry name.
They also acquired lots of smaller foundries, so I guess that this 'Modern Compressed Capitals' must belong to one of those smaller foundries. But they where being sold by the Caslon Foundry.
> "Caslon, as we usually know it"
Yep... but even then, what we usually know today is a mix of lots of different Caslons, including the 'American' Caslon cuts by ATF.