I have just been reading a book called About Face and in the description of sans serif it says "The first sans serifs, characterised (like Flat Face before them) by absence of serifs..." I was just wondering what a flat face was? Would they technically be the first sans serif typefaces even before caslon's sans?
I tried googleing didn't go so well and search appears to be broken
any links or info would be greatly appriciated, thanks
That's a typographic error and mis-spelling.
Fat Faces were a genre of ultra-heavy serifed type designs introduced in the early 19th century, arguably the first of the new commercial (job-printing for businesses) styles that evolved to meet marketing needs, rather than those of book-publishing.
Right that makes sense, thanks for the info
It could be said that the original Egyptian (aka Antique) faces of the early 19th century had "flat" or unbracketed serifs.
Also, the centre stem of cap E, for instance, in that genre, had no serif.
hmmm very interesting, thanks for clearing that up btw
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