I think your Neoclassical angle is right on.
But of those three fonts, only Plantagenet is close, and not even very.

My first choice might be [a] Walbaum.

hhp

Walbaum is too late, maybe. He was working in the 1800s. And his work isn't "American" at all, at least from what little details I know.

Of course, maybe you could determine when Walbaum's type was introduced to the US. If that era correspond to the type of furniture that the shop is selling, it could be a go�

I don't have any details about Ben and John, Dan, but I have also heard repeatedly that Ben was a big fan of John. In fact, Ben I've even heard rumors that Ben didn't even like William, or maybe he liked William but left him after he met John. William was the man, though, and might still be in England for all I know.

My favorite hearsay story is this: When Ben was in England, many of his printer friends were dissing John, talking the normal ••••� you know "this type is too light an illegible. It hurts my eyes; I can't read it!" Ben printed up two sheets of paper, one printed in Caslon, and the other in Baskerville. Then, he gave the trash-talkers the Baskerville, and said that it was Caslon, and vice-versa. The John-haters lauded over the page they thought was in Caslon, and denounced the actual Caslon print, enforcing the idea in Ben's mind that they had no idea. Dogma�

Historical fidelity is one thing, good design is another.

The story about Franklin doing a switcharoo is true (if one of his letters to Baskerville is to be believed), but it was done in the States, and only one way: he took a Caslon specimen sheet, tore off the top, and showed it to a Baskerville-hater saying it was Baskerville, getting the predictable layman-in-expert's-clothing response.

hhp

I'm only digging Storm Type's Walbaum.

Looks Filosophia-esque, but the caps are cash money for the letters I have to use for the logotype. Also, those numbers are great. It's also not too expensive.

Additional thoughts? I still really like Plantagenet Novus.

Is Plantagenet Novus even available for licensing?

If you are looking to buy a font family, licensing one from Storm Type *would* be a very good idea.

What about Matthew Carter's Monticello, based on Binny & Ronaldson's types used by Thomas Jefferson. It is one of those typefaces I would love to have an opportunity to use.

Interesting. Monticello is pretty nice. I am making a note of it. Thanks, John.

Dan did you do any research on competitive resources. I bet they all have websites you could visit. It might give you a better lay of the land.

On Franklin.

I didn't hear from him last year, I haven't heard from him this year and if I don't hear from him next year, I'm going to write him a letter. George Washington. (oops George W)