Algerian (typeface)
Encyclopedia
Algerian is the name of two typeface
s.
The first was a foundry type cast by Stephenson Blake
in 1908.
The second is a decorative serif
digital font family
having no relation to the Stephenson Blake face, but rather being a knock off of the Keystone Foundry's nineteenth-century face Glyphic. The design for the typeface is owned by Linotype, while the name 'Algerian' is a trademark of the International Typeface Corporation
. Algerian comes in two styles: 'Algerian' (regular) and 'Algerian Condensed'.
Algerian (regular) was created for Scangraphic
at Letraset
. Algerian Condensed was created by the Linotype library designer Alan Meeks. Although Algerian is reminiscent of Victorian era
woodcut types, both styles were created in 1988.
Algerian is reviled for its overuse. Originally, the Algerian font only had capital letters, but Michael Hagemann, with the FontMesa publisher developed in 2005, a complete typeface which includes lower case letters with the name of Algerian Mesa (as seen in the image).
Typeface
In typography, a typeface is the artistic representation or interpretation of characters; it is the way the type looks. Each type is designed and there are thousands of different typefaces in existence, with new ones being developed constantly....
s.
The first was a foundry type cast by Stephenson Blake
Stephenson Blake
Stephenson Blake was a British Type foundry, based in Sheffield, England. Active from the 19th century until the 1990s, it remained the last active typefoundry in Britain.-Type Founding:...
in 1908.
The second is a decorative serif
Serif
In typography, serifs are semi-structural details on the ends of some of the strokes that make up letters and symbols. A typeface with serifs is called a serif typeface . A typeface without serifs is called sans serif or sans-serif, from the French sans, meaning “without”...
digital font family
Typeface
In typography, a typeface is the artistic representation or interpretation of characters; it is the way the type looks. Each type is designed and there are thousands of different typefaces in existence, with new ones being developed constantly....
having no relation to the Stephenson Blake face, but rather being a knock off of the Keystone Foundry's nineteenth-century face Glyphic. The design for the typeface is owned by Linotype, while the name 'Algerian' is a trademark of the International Typeface Corporation
International Typeface Corporation
The International Typeface Corporation was a type manufacturer founded in New York in 1970 by Aaron Burns, Herb Lubalin, and Edward Rondthaler. The company was one of the world's first type foundries to have no history in the production of metal type...
. Algerian comes in two styles: 'Algerian' (regular) and 'Algerian Condensed'.
Algerian (regular) was created for Scangraphic
Scangraphic
Scangraphic is a division of Dr. Böger Duplomat Apparate GmbH & Co.KG, based in Wedel near Hamburg, Germany. It was founded by Bernd Holthusen and Knut Schmiedl....
at Letraset
Letraset
Letraset is a company based in the Kingsnorth Industrial Estate in Ashford, Kent, UK.It is known mainly for manufacturing sheets of artwork elements which can be transferred to artwork being prepared. The name Letraset was often used to refer generically to sheets of dry transferrable lettering of...
. Algerian Condensed was created by the Linotype library designer Alan Meeks. Although Algerian is reminiscent of Victorian era
Victorian era
The Victorian era of British history was the period of Queen Victoria's reign from 20 June 1837 until her death on 22 January 1901. It was a long period of peace, prosperity, refined sensibilities and national self-confidence...
woodcut types, both styles were created in 1988.
Algerian is reviled for its overuse. Originally, the Algerian font only had capital letters, but Michael Hagemann, with the FontMesa publisher developed in 2005, a complete typeface which includes lower case letters with the name of Algerian Mesa (as seen in the image).