I’m also very interested in symbols used by early(ier) printers for retail/trade. Stuff like for example printers fists (something I could use instead of the typical shopping basket, and also symbols for price listings and such).

It sounds like a dream job!

Rather than choose a single text typeface for the entire series, I'd suggest working out a more flexible but easily recognizable visual identity, which could accommodate different typefaces for different books -- especially books about different historical periods. (Not that the typeface has to be from the same period, just that it has to feel compatible.) That would also give you the flexibility to use a different typeface online than on paper, if need be.

That said, as you asked about "antique map fonts," I'd suggest taking a look at Mark van Bronkhorst's MVB Sirenne family, which was based on the engraved lettering used for captions and other map-like information in an 18th-century book from a map publisher in Amsterdam.

http://mvbfonts.com/mvb_sirenne/

John

I thought about choosing Poynter for a book project lately. It is elegant (cap P, G, Q etc), yet relatively generic in style. Though having it's roots in low-country Renaissance it could fit Baroque and later texts too. Plus you can get different optically scaled variants for different sizes and a well hinted version for the web via webtype. Or maybe you find some others over there. http://www.webtype.com/catalog/style/?ts=692

But Clifford is a good pick, too, the FF-fonts usually work well on screen.
I'd go for some late moderate Renaissance or Baroque face, something that sits a bit in between the historic periods and doesn't resemble one particular style so much.

I just met Paperback by John Downer. Could be suitable as well, optical sizes, ornaments and other goodies.

Sorry for the late response. These are excellent suggestions! Thank you. I really like Poynter. Both it and Clifford are my best bets for now, for text use. I’m particulary drawn to Clifford for the optical sizes. That’s one helluva overlooked aspect of web design.

As for different typefaces for different books, John, the books already have their own set of fonts that does not necessarily adhere to their historical period.

I’ll have to ask Nick about the rendering quality of Figgins.

Sirenne is also an excellent idea. I’m up for more suggestions, btw.

For Christmas, mum bought me a dictionary of symbols which should get me started on that front.

I'd go for some late moderate Renaissance or Baroque face, something that sits a bit in between the historic periods and doesn't resemble one particular style so much.

Care to give some examples, Indra?

Riccardo: Yes, this could be a dream job! It depends on the publisher though. They’re very passionate about the whole thing (the head guy lives in an old prison filled with art, books, pipes (yeay!), grandfather clocks and tons of antiques), but they did chose a not-so-great designer the first time around which makes me somewhat vary about how much they’ll really appreciate my work.

Frode have you seen Espinosa Nova?

Oh my! That is really something. No @font-face support?

What an inspiring project! For two beautiful typefaces with character and authenticity, I'd certainly take a look at Giovanni Mardersteig's Dante, and for your Didone style, DSType's Andrade.

mum bought me a dictionary of symbols

Is it the Liungman volume? Or something else?

Your idea regarding older symbols is nice, yet requires some deeper research, perhaps. The fist is always fitting, I suppose. Maybe, you ought to go to a library and scroll through the advertising pages of old newspapers. Gorgeous graphics are to be found in that quite often.