Digitised English Grotesques — Typophile archive

geedee17 February 2014 · 02:21

Hi everybody,

I'm trying to find some authentic (as possible) digitised versions of historical English sans serif typefaces.

Along the lines of: Caslon Sans, Figgins, Johnston etc.

I've been trawling the forums and it seems like Caslon Sans is difficult to get hold of/has a strange license (I might be wrong). The one I've seen which I really like is John Morgan's version.

I've looked at Figgins, and as beautiful as it is, it is a little 'bulky', for want of a better word, for my use.

My knowledge of type history is patchy and ill-informed at best so forgive my vagueness!

I'm looking for something along the lines of a sans serif that could have been used on an English shop from an unspecified time 'back in the day', with a bit of quirk and character.

English designed and digitised would be ideal but willing to look at other digitised versions of typefaces based on grotesque's if need be, such as Klim's Founders Grotesk: https://klim.co.nz/blog/founders-grotesk-design-information/ which is as close a one I can find. It is a lovely font!

Donald H. Tucker17 February 2014 · 20:28

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a sans serif that could have been used on an English shop from an unspecified time 'back in the day', with a bit of quirk and character. with a bit of quirk and character.
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It would be very helpful if you could clarify what you mean by "back in the day." 1850? 1900? 1930? 1970?
The term grotesque was first applied to an early sans serif by the English foundry Thorowgood in 1832.
English shops used hand lettered signage up until very recently. Some were clumsy, some were elegant.
If you are looking for grotesque typefaces that might have influenced sign makers you might start with something like Monotype Grotesque of 1926, available as a digital font http://www.myfonts.com/fonts/adobe/monotype-grotesque/
A list of headline grotesque fonts http://www.fontshop.com/fontlist/genres/angloamerican_headline_grotesque/
For interesting variations google "wooden type" "grotesque."
Characteristics of the English grotesque, as compared to other sans may include a vertical spur on the G and a square M. Also check the design of a, e, g and t in fonts known to be grotesque.
Don