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Cheltenham (typeface)
Encyclopedia
Cheltenham is a display typeface
, designed in 1896 by architect Bertram Goodhue
and Ingalls Kimball
, director of the Cheltenham Press. The original drawings were known as Boston Old Style and were made about 14" high. These drawings were then turned over to Morris Fuller Benton
at American Type Founders
(ATF) who developed it into a final design. Trial cuttings were made as early as 1899 but the face was not complete until 1902. The face was patented by Kimball in 1904. Later the basic face was spun out into an extensive type family by Morris Fuller Benton.
Cheltenham is not based on a single historical model, and shows influences of the Arts and Crafts Movement
. Originally intended as a text face, "Chelt" became hugely successful as the "king of the display faces." Part of the faces huge popularity is because, as it has elements of both an old style and transitional face, a Cheltenham headline complements virtually any body type. The overwhelming popularity of the face for display purposes lasted until the advent of the geometric sans-serif typefaces of the 1930s.
era, and it was offered by various manufacturers under the following names:
A cold type variant ITC Cheltenham, was also designed by Tony Stan for the International Typeface Corporation
, in 1975. It features a larger x-height
and improved italic details. The family includes 4 weights and 2 width each, with complementary italics.
and is sold by Bitstream Inc.
. The ITC version is also available from Linotype
, Monotype, and Adobe Systems
, along with ITC Cheltenham Handtooled, a 1993 version with highlight, designed by Ed Benguiat
. Other versions are available from Tilde, Font Bureau
, URW++, Scangraphic Digital Type Collection, and Elsner+Flake
. Besley Clarendon is available from HiH
to create multiple weights and a heavily condensed width of Cheltenham to replace most of the Latin Extra Condensed face in use, as well as Bookman
and a variant of Century Bold.
IDG
's ...for Dummies
series of how-to books are set in ITC Cheltenham.
L.L.Bean's logo is set in Cheltenham.
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....
, designed in 1896 by architect Bertram Goodhue
Bertram Goodhue
Bertram Grosvenor Goodhue was a American architect celebrated for his work in neo-gothic design. He also designed notable typefaces, including Cheltenham and Merrymount for the Merrymount Press.-Early career:...
and Ingalls Kimball
Ingalls Kimball
Ingalls Kimball was an American printer and entrepreneur.-Early years:Born in West Newton, Massachusetts to American entrepreneur Hannibal Ingalls Kimball and Mary Kimball....
, director of the Cheltenham Press. The original drawings were known as Boston Old Style and were made about 14" high. These drawings were then turned over to Morris Fuller Benton
Morris Fuller Benton
Morris Fuller Benton was an influential American typeface designer who headed the design department of the American Type Founders , for which he was the chief type designer from 1900 to 1937...
at American Type Founders
American Type Founders
American Type Founders was a business trust created in 1892 by the merger of 23 type foundries, representing about 85% of all type manufactured in the United States...
(ATF) who developed it into a final design. Trial cuttings were made as early as 1899 but the face was not complete until 1902. The face was patented by Kimball in 1904. Later the basic face was spun out into an extensive type family by Morris Fuller Benton.
Cheltenham is not based on a single historical model, and shows influences of the Arts and Crafts Movement
Arts and Crafts movement
Arts and Crafts was an international design philosophy that originated in England and flourished between 1860 and 1910 , continuing its influence until the 1930s...
. Originally intended as a text face, "Chelt" became hugely successful as the "king of the display faces." Part of the faces huge popularity is because, as it has elements of both an old style and transitional face, a Cheltenham headline complements virtually any body type. The overwhelming popularity of the face for display purposes lasted until the advent of the geometric sans-serif typefaces of the 1930s.
Foundry Type
The following versions were available in foundry type:- ATF'sAmerican Type FoundersAmerican Type Founders was a business trust created in 1892 by the merger of 23 type foundries, representing about 85% of all type manufactured in the United States...
Cheltenham series- Cheltenham (1903, Bertram GoodhueBertram GoodhueBertram Grosvenor Goodhue was a American architect celebrated for his work in neo-gothic design. He also designed notable typefaces, including Cheltenham and Merrymount for the Merrymount Press.-Early career:...
, Ingalls KimballIngalls KimballIngalls Kimball was an American printer and entrepreneur.-Early years:Born in West Newton, Massachusetts to American entrepreneur Hannibal Ingalls Kimball and Mary Kimball....
, Morris Fuller BentonMorris Fuller BentonMorris Fuller Benton was an influential American typeface designer who headed the design department of the American Type Founders , for which he was the chief type designer from 1900 to 1937...
and/or Joseph W. PhinneyJoseph W. PhinneyJoseph Warren Phinney was an American printer, type designer, and business executive. Phinney began his career at the Dickinson Type Foundry in Boston where he designed type and worked in management, eventually becoming owner...
) - Cheltenham Bold (1903, Morris Fuller BentonMorris Fuller BentonMorris Fuller Benton was an influential American typeface designer who headed the design department of the American Type Founders , for which he was the chief type designer from 1900 to 1937...
) - Cheltenham Bold Condensed (1904, Morris Fuller BentonMorris Fuller BentonMorris Fuller Benton was an influential American typeface designer who headed the design department of the American Type Founders , for which he was the chief type designer from 1900 to 1937...
) - Cheltenham Bold Italic + Cheltenham Bold Condensed Italic + Cheltenham Wide + Cheltenham Bold Outline (1905, Morris Fuller BentonMorris Fuller BentonMorris Fuller Benton was an influential American typeface designer who headed the design department of the American Type Founders , for which he was the chief type designer from 1900 to 1937...
) - Cheltenham Bold Extra Condensed + Cheltenham Bold Extended (1906, Morris Fuller BentonMorris Fuller BentonMorris Fuller Benton was an influential American typeface designer who headed the design department of the American Type Founders , for which he was the chief type designer from 1900 to 1937...
) - Cheltenham Inline + Cheltenham Inline Extra Condensed
- Cheltenham Inline Extended (1907, Morris Fuller BentonMorris Fuller BentonMorris Fuller Benton was an influential American typeface designer who headed the design department of the American Type Founders , for which he was the chief type designer from 1900 to 1937...
) - Cheltenham Oldstyle Condensed + Cheltenham Medium (1909, Morris Fuller BentonMorris Fuller BentonMorris Fuller Benton was an influential American typeface designer who headed the design department of the American Type Founders , for which he was the chief type designer from 1900 to 1937...
) - Cheltenham Medium Italic + Cheltenham Extra Bold (1910, Morris Fuller BentonMorris Fuller BentonMorris Fuller Benton was an influential American typeface designer who headed the design department of the American Type Founders , for which he was the chief type designer from 1900 to 1937...
) - Cheltenham Bold Shaded + Cheltenham Bold Italic Shaded + Cheltenham Extra Bold Shaded (1912, Morris Fuller BentonMorris Fuller BentonMorris Fuller Benton was an influential American typeface designer who headed the design department of the American Type Founders , for which he was the chief type designer from 1900 to 1937...
) - Cheltenham Medium Condensed + Cheltenham Medium Expanded (1913, Morris Fuller BentonMorris Fuller BentonMorris Fuller Benton was an influential American typeface designer who headed the design department of the American Type Founders , for which he was the chief type designer from 1900 to 1937...
) - Venetian (1911, Morris Fuller BentonMorris Fuller BentonMorris Fuller Benton was an influential American typeface designer who headed the design department of the American Type Founders , for which he was the chief type designer from 1900 to 1937...
) was originally called Cheltenham #2, but its resemlance to the original face was only slight.
- Cheltenham (1903, Bertram Goodhue
- LinotypeLinotypeThe Mergenthaler Linotype Company is a corporation founded in the United States in 1886 to market the linecaster invented by Ottmar Mergenthaler...
, Monotype, and LudlowLudlow TypographA Ludlow Typograph is a hot metal typesetting system used in letterpress printing. The device casts bars, or slugs of type, out of type metal primarily consisting of lead. These slugs are used for the actual printing, and then are melted down and recycled on the spot.The Ludlow system uses molds,...
all produced their own Cheltenham under that name and with almost as many variations as ATF. A few new variations were added:- Cheltenham Cursive (R. Hunter MiddletonR. Hunter MiddletonRobert Hunter Middleton was an American book designer, painter, and type designer. Born in Glasgow, Scotland he came to Chicago in 1908 where he studied at the School of the Art Institute. He joined the design department of the Ludlow Typograph Company in 1923 and served as director of the...
, LudlowLudlow TypographA Ludlow Typograph is a hot metal typesetting system used in letterpress printing. The device casts bars, or slugs of type, out of type metal primarily consisting of lead. These slugs are used for the actual printing, and then are melted down and recycled on the spot.The Ludlow system uses molds,...
) - Cheltenham Wide Italic (Sol HessSol HessSol Hess was an American typeface designer. After a three-year scholarship course at Pennsylvania Museum School of Industrial Design, he began at Lanston Monotype in 1902, rising to typographic manager in 1922. He was a close friend and collaborator with Monotype art director Frederic Goudy,...
, Monotype)
- Cheltenham Cursive (R. Hunter Middleton
- IntertypeIntertype CorporationThe Intertype Corporation produced the Intertype, a typecasting machine closely resembling the Linotype, and using the same matrices as the Linotype...
called their version Cheltonian - Western Type FoundryWestern Type FoundryWestern Type Foundry was founded in 1901 to compete with the conglomerate and near-monopoly, American Type Founders. In 1914 Western purchased the Advance Type Foundry in Chicago from Wiebking, Hardinge & Company, though even before this Robert Wiebking did most of the punch-cutting and matrix...
called their version Chesterfield - Hansen Type Foundry called their version Craftsman
- Inland Type FoundryInland Type FoundryThe Inland Type Foundry was an American type foundry established in 1894 in Saint Louis, Missouri and later with branch offices in Chicago and New York City...
called their version Kenilworth (1904) - Keystone Type Foundry called their version Lowell (1905, Charles W. Smith)
- Stephenson BlakeStephenson BlakeStephenson 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:...
called their version Winchester - English Monotype called their version Gloucester
- Berthold called their version Sorbonne (1905)
Cold Type Versions
The popularity of Cheltenham continued strong right in the cold typePhototypesetting
Phototypesetting was a method of setting type, rendered obsolete with the popularity of the personal computer and desktop publishing software, that uses a photographic process to generate columns of type on a scroll of photographic paper...
era, and it was offered by various manufacturers under the following names:
- Nordoff — AutologicInformation International, Inc.Information International, Inc., commonly referred to as Triple-I or III, was an early computer technology company; Founded by Edward Fredkin in 1962 in Maynard, Massachusetts. It then moved to Santa Monica, Culver City, and Los Angeles California. Triple-I merged with Autologic, Inc. in 1996...
- Sorbonne — Berthold
- Cheltonian — HarrisHarris CorporationHarris Corporation is a Florida-based international communications equipment company that produces wireless equipment, electronic systems, and both terrestrial and spaceborne antennas for use in the government, defense, and commercial sectors. It is also the largest private-sector employer in...
- Gloucester — Monotype
A cold type variant ITC Cheltenham, was also designed by Tony Stan for 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...
, in 1975. It features a larger x-height
X-height
In typography, the x-height or corpus size refers to the distance between the baseline and the mean line in a typeface. Typically, this is the height of the letter x in the font , as well as the u, v, w, and z...
and improved italic details. The family includes 4 weights and 2 width each, with complementary italics.
Digital Versions
The original face has been digitized by the current owner, Kinsley/ATFAmerican Type Founders
American Type Founders was a business trust created in 1892 by the merger of 23 type foundries, representing about 85% of all type manufactured in the United States...
and is sold by Bitstream Inc.
Bitstream Inc.
Bitstream Inc. is a type foundry that produces digital typefaces . Founded in 1981 by Matthew Carter and Mike Parker among others, it claims to be the oldest such company...
. The ITC version is also available from Linotype
Linotype
The Mergenthaler Linotype Company is a corporation founded in the United States in 1886 to market the linecaster invented by Ottmar Mergenthaler...
, Monotype, and Adobe Systems
Adobe Systems
Adobe Systems Incorporated is an American computer software company founded in 1982 and headquartered in San Jose, California, United States...
, along with ITC Cheltenham Handtooled, a 1993 version with highlight, designed by Ed Benguiat
Ed Benguiat
Ed Benguiat is an American typographer. He has crafted over 600 typefaces including Tiffany, Bookman, Panache, Edwardian Script, and the self-titled typefaces Benguiat and Benguiat Gothic...
. Other versions are available from Tilde, Font Bureau
Font Bureau
The Font Bureau, Inc. or Font Bureau is a digital type foundry based in Boston, Massachusetts, United States. The foundry is one of the leading designers of typefaces, specializing in type designs for magazine and newspaper publishers....
, URW++, Scangraphic Digital Type Collection, and Elsner+Flake
Elsner+Flake
Elsner+Flake is a trademark used by German type foundry originally called EF Designstudios but later renamed Elsner+Flake Type Consulting GmbH and is currently based in Hamburg...
. Besley Clarendon is available from HiH
HIH
HIH may refer to:*His or Her Imperial Highness, a title still used today for members of Japan's Imperial Family*HIH Insurance, a former Australian insurance company*Harstad University College , a Norwegian state institution of higher education...
Prominent usage
In 2003 the New York Times introduced a more unified Cheltenham typographic palette for its headline use in the print edition. Previously, Cheltenham was only one of several types including a sans-serif in a Victorian looking mix of headline faces. Tom Bodkin, assistant managing editor and design director of the Times, engaged typeface designer Matthew CarterMatthew Carter
Matthew Carter is a type designer. He lives in Cambridge, Massachusetts, United States. Carter's career in type design has witnessed the transition from physical metal type to digital type...
to create multiple weights and a heavily condensed width of Cheltenham to replace most of the Latin Extra Condensed face in use, as well as Bookman
Bookman (typeface)
Bookman or Bookman Old Style is a serif typeface derived from Old Style Antique and designed by Alexander Phemister in 1858 for Miller and Richard foundry. Several American foundries copied the design, including the Bruce Type Foundry, and issued it under various names. In 1901, Bruce refitted...
and a variant of Century Bold.
IDG
IDG
International Data Group is a technology media, research, event management, and venture capital organization.IDG evolved from International Data Corporation which was formed in 1964 in Newtonville, Massachusetts, by Patrick Joseph McGovern and a friend, Fred Kirch...
's ...for Dummies
...for Dummies
For Dummies is an extensive series of instructional / reference books which are intended to present non-intimidating guides for readers new to the various topics covered. Despite the title, their publisher has taken great pains to emphasize that the For Dummies books are not literally for dummies....
series of how-to books are set in ITC Cheltenham.
L.L.Bean's logo is set in Cheltenham.