A pointy classic?

Question

Dear FontID'ers,

My humble collections of fonts is slowly growing. And, knowing me I absolutely can't leave any tag unnamed. Does anyone recognize this letter and its origine? I love the little pointy bits. That is a technical term right? As always many thanks. I very much appreciate your help.

Answer 1

Hey Carlijn,

This is (a version of) Jefferson. Designed by Gustave F. Schroeder, it’s part of a series for Central Type Foundry which also included Lafayette (extra condensed, 1885) and Washington (bold, 1886). Webster is an extension designed by Julius Herriet, Jr. for Boston Type Foundry in c.1888. Since your font includes umlauts along with some other accented characters, it’s probably one of the European copies, like Atlanta by Flinsch (Frankfurt/Main) or Columbus by Brendler (Vienna).

Comments

Hoi Florian,

You are on your A game again! Thank you so much for helping me yet again. They are still in the post but when they arrive I will see if there are any cast marks (like you taught me last time) to identify a manufacturer.

By the way, an off topic question but how do you do it? Look up a font so fast? Photographic memory? Or do you have a library of speciment books?

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You’re welcome!

For your question: it’s mostly memory, and benefitting from years of training – I guess that’s true for most of the regulars here. I’ve been at this nerdy activity for twenty years now, having started at the (long defunct) Typophile Type ID Board. For Jefferson, Lafayette etc. in particular, I learned about this series during my work as editor of the Fonts In Use archive. The info on the pages I linked to above was compiled by me, together with my colleagues including Stewf and Matthijs. I should add that we’re standing on the shoulders of giants like type historian Hans Reichardt – without his groundwork, I wouldn’t know about versions like Atlanta and Columbus so easily. Always happy when I can use this accumulated niche knowledge to help someone out!

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That is an interesting backstory. I find it fascinating that people people can be experts in such specialised subjects. I feel that bookbinders (like me) know a little about everything but are you are never an expert. There is always more to learn. I am sure in am not alone in this, but thank you (and Stwef and Matthijs) for the fantastic job! It is very my appreciated.