Pompeian Cursive Font

Publisher: Wordshape

Pompeian Cursive is a calligraphically-inspired display screen typeface including a limited number of alternate characters and a handful of stylish ligatures. A dynamic set of non-lining numerals accompanies, as well as a few calligraphically-inspired flourishes for ornament.

The history of this typeface:
Oswald Cooper's relationship with the Barnhart Brothers & & Spindler foundry was one prompted under the auspices of producing new designs of type in lieu of following stylistic patterns. In 1927, BB&S requested that Cooper create a script-like cursive typeface style in step with Lucien Bernhard's Schoenschrift and ATF's similarly-styled Liberty typeface.

In reaction to BB&S's desire to emulate instead of innovate, Cooper composed to Mcarthur, "I am desolated to see Barnhart's raise the black flag. Your own efforts through the years to increase the foundry into a location in the sun as a producer seem lost." Still, Cooper took up the job at hand, developing a fragile, sophisticated type style which he called Pompeian Cursive. The typeface featured a minimal number of alternate characters and a handful of graceful ligatures. A vibrant set of non-lining characters accompanied, as well as a few calligraphically-inspired flourishes for ornamenting the end of lines of type accompanied the typeface, as well.

By reviewing the few remaining original illustrations for the type, as well as generous samples of Pompeian Cursive from both Cooper & & BB&S' proofing process and period-specific type specimens, Wordshape presents the very first digital variation of this traditional hybrid script/sans typeface, total with all original alternate characters and accessories. Pompeian Cursive has been intensively spaced and kerned for the finest setting for weddings, announcements, and basic display screen work.

- What was the inspiration for designing the font?

While researching a biographic essay for Japan's CONCEPT Magazine, I stumbled upon the initial evidence and drawings for Pompeian Cursive. While a variety of foundries have launched interpretations of Cooper's assorted typefaces, they wander off from the original rather significantly in parts. Cooper is without a doubt my favorite type and lettering designer, and to bring a refined go back to his original intents is an enormous gift.

- What are its primary characteristics and features?

Pompeian Cursive is a typeface which functions as both a screen face and a restricted text face. It features sophisticated, thoughtful, and fragile swash capitals and rugged lowercase characters with a low x-height and gracefully long ascenders and descenders.

- Use suggestions:

Display type or text-setting. Perfect for newspaper work, editorial style, materials planned to invoke an "old-timey" flavor, or almost anything in requirement of personality.