We had this question recently, and I believe it was agreed that this was a custom blackletter, not available as a commercial font. In fact, it seemed that there were several different versions of this logo we have looked at — all custom, i think.

- Mike Yanega

i don’t remember an agreement being made. Additionally the variance in the font appearance is simply dictated by the process through which the signs were created. This sample is from a CATALOGUE, a PRINTed piece therefore a typeface must have been set and named. As well 200,000+ fonts ... right. Please someone else take a stab at this.

Bart, I don’t think the fact that the catalog was printed means a typeface had to be used. There are any number of ways that hand-drawn lettering could be reproduced as part of a printed page. For example, a metal plate could be made and used for the printing. Do they ever use the same lettering for anything except the logo?

- Mike Yanega

You also said this was from an “old .. catalogue poster”. If ’old’ is before the 1980’s, the 200,000+ font statement doesn’t apply. Digital fonts were only starting to be widely used by the mid-to-late ’80’s, and the number of fonts was not so large until relatively recently.

I have looked at books I have on type, and so far I have not been able to match this blackletter style.

- Mike Yanega