Typophile

Anglican Missal

A K M Adam

I was trying to replicate the appearance of this portion of the Anglican Missal, and was stymied in trying to identify the main body face. In particular, the lower-case “r” with its slight upward reach, and the “g” (which I know should be a giveaway) elude me. It looks a little like a Clarendon, and little like a Cheltenham, but not exactly like either, to my eye.

I promise I'll moan, smack my forehead, and say “Of course!” if the answer is as obvious as I fear it will be.

Many thanks —

Font: 
Gloucester Old Style
Solved By: 
DPape
AttachmentSize
Screen Shot 2014-10-29 at 11.03.03.png95.06 KB
A K M Adam

[Edited]

K.C. Thompson

Based on the g, I'd say it's some variation of Cheltenham, but that high-nosed r is the sticking point.

A K M Adam

That was my observation as well — it should be a giveaway, but I can't spot it in another face.

It compares interestingly to Berthold Sorbonne and Paratype Academy, but these are slightly higher in contrast, and without the reaching “r” and (I notice, not in the sample) relatively straight lower-case “f”.

The whole of the Anglican Missal is curious, as it is composed of separate bodies of prayers set in differing faces. The bit I’m looking at now is “Prayers Before Mass,” but each subsequent section employs slightly (or markedly) different type. The “Proper Masses” section uses a face whose “r” is more conventional, and whose “l” upper serifs are angled rather than square.

If you’re interested, it’s at Archive.org.

Michel Boyer

Here is such an from Lawson's Anatomy of a Typeface (from the chapter on Cheltenham)

Donald H. Tucker

Cheltenham as shown in the ATF 1923 Specimen Book is a match. The alternate _r_, with its arm raised above x-height, was provided with the various Cheltenham fonts. Here is the bold and extra bold version:


Mac McGrew explains: "The alternate form of r, with its arm raised above x-height, has also been criticized, but this is mostly the result of misuse. It is disturbing within a word, but adds a bit of grace at the end of a word." Source: American Metal Types of the 20th Century.
Don

Donald H. Tucker

I checked some digital Cheltenhams -- Adobe, Bitstream, Softmaker. They do not include the alternate form of r, with its arm raised above x-height.
But perhaps there is a version that does.
Don

DPape

GloucesterOSMTStd

Donald H. Tucker

Yes Dick, this is a version of Cheltenham that fits. Links: http://www.ascenderfonts.com/font/gloucester-complete-family-pack.aspx and https://www.myfonts.com/fonts/mti/gloucester-old-style-mt/ and http://www.linotype.com/167288/GloucesterOldStyle-product.html?licenseAv...
Don

A K M Adam

Excellent, that's it exactly.

Captured from web.archive.org on 17 Mar 2015. view this capture