I QUIT

Archive for category: Type I Saw Today

Type samples from the real world

   (2005.07.14)

One is of course reminded of Fran Lebowitz, whom I read, without understanding what was really going on, in Moncton in the ’70s, long before we all became New Yorkers, mostly by going there and being gay.

So You Want to Be an Heiress?

I cross…

  1. Only after looking both ways.
  2. Town by bus.
  3. The days off the calendar.
  4. My sevens.

Or, for some type designers, their zeds.

A bag of garlic pitas, bananas, and a corner of a magazine page showing a photo of Ziyi Zhang, with a script font whose crossed Zs are hard to discern

Do not delude yourself that your cute little flourishes on beloved, idiosyncratic letters like Z and Q will never cause harm to legibility.

   (2005.07.14)

Yet further ancient typography from downtown. There are advantages to neglect and decrepitude.

Hand-painted letters on transom window read BROWNLEY APARTMENTS
   (2005.07.14)

Listen, when I worked as a typesetter we never permitted letters to touch. What were we, Lubalin?

Green billboard for Heineken reads ‘Flirt in another language,’ with the rt letters touching
   (2005.07.14)

I took this picture and I can’t figure it out.

Building and tree branches reflect in store window that shows a Hindi-looking character and an s
   (2005.07.12)

I keep finding these strange multigeneration signs downtown, with ancient hand-lettering “augmented” by latter-day off-the-shelf Helvetica or equivalent.

Carved sign in the shape of a shield reads Maitland Arms Apts. in script, with hand-lettered 110 MAITLAND ST. and Helvetica Condensed insert reading ONE BEDROOM AVAILABLE
   (2005.07.12)

I want to know more about uncial type. I believe Michael Everson could tell me a lot about it, yet I fear him.

Blue book is entitled ‘Marks & Monograms on Pottery & Porcelain’ in commoncase uncial type
   (2005.07.12)

Yet more blackletter.

Overlaid white, red, black, and teal blackletter type on a yellow background reads Group of Seven Deadly Sins

Someday if I buy a scanner I can show you some samples from this ancient Dutch book I have, which Matthew Carter found interesting for a few seconds.

   (2005.07.12)
Doorway is flanked by torches and the number 59. Above the doorway sits a banner reading Fiftynine in Belwe Condensed
   (2005.07.11)

A complex and outstanding example of three-dimensional type and natural building materials that is difficult to photograph.

Granite plinth over glass-brick doorway reads SILVERMAN BUILDING in engraved letters. Sign on the front wall shows a Vetruvian Man illustration and THE HINCKS-DELLORES CENTRE in raised type

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