Question

Which version of Bodoni is this? Metal type.

Answer 1

It does look like ATF’s Bodoni Bold, see especially the top right part of a. Berthold’s Bodoni-Antiqua is similar in that regard, but has a t with pointed top.

Comments

On a general note, it’s often possible to identify the source of metal type by looking for pinmarks and other characteristics, see the linked articles on Circuitous Root.

 

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Hi Florian!

Here are some of the marks (if I can call them that) consistent throughout my set. Unfortunately there are no circular pinmarks like the ones shown in your links. Hopefully whatever these marks are may reveal more info. Thanks for the recommendations of Bodoni variants! Cheers

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Excellent! I myself am no expert in identifying metal type, but I can imagine these images might provide clues to others.

With the partly hollow body, it looks like this a fairly larger size, yes?

Where is this type located? This might help with narrowing down the source, too. For example, you typically won’t find ATF type in Europe so much.

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I acquired these in the Philippines. "Vintage," at least according to the seller I got them from.

Metal type in these parts is very difficult to come by, despite our country having a rich and long publishing history, and being one of the very first in Asia to have typography introduced to (The first book made by type here was circa 1604).

Documentation on type here is also scarce, except for this 1910 catalogue of typefaces used and manual of printing procedures used by the country's Bureau of Printing back then.

Truly a rabbit hole I've gotten myself into, hahaha!