CLARENDON

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• FACTS/HISTORY

  • Released in 1845 by Fann Street Foundry

  • The designer credited is Robert Besley

  • A partner is a foundry engraved by punchcutter Benjamin Fox

  • Slab serifs are popular British lettering

  • Popular in many parts of the world (American old western wanted posters)

  • Released by Monotype in 1935

  • Reworked to what it now is in 1953 by Hermann Eidenbenz

 

• BOTH

  • Classic display face

  • Clarendon is used for display on signage

  • Architectural lettering

  • Posters

  • Popular wood type

  • Used  by Sony

 

• CHARACTERISTICS

  • Slab-serif

  • Bold

  • Solid structure

  • Similar to modern serif typefaces’ structure

  • The capital ‘R’ has a curled leg and there is ball terminals on the lowercase ‘a’ and lowercase ‘c’

  • There is less contrast in the stroke weight

  • Plain, sturdy,

  • strong bracketed serifs

  • Vertical stress

  • Large x-height

  • Short ascenders and descenders