Caslon Antique
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- For other uses or meanings of Caslon, see Caslon (disambiguation).
Typeface | Caslon Antique |
---|---|
Category | Display |
Designer(s) | Berne Nadall |
Foundry | Barnhart Brothers and Spindler |
Sample | |
Caslon Antique is a decorative American typeface that was designed in 1894 by Berne Nadall. It was originally called "Fifteenth Century", but was renamed "Caslon Antique" by Nadall's foundry, Barnhart Bros. & Spindler, in the mid-1920s.
The typeface is meant to evoke Colonial-era design. Early foundries would often retain type specimens for a long time, and the faces would become chipped and damaged from use. Caslon Antique emulates this look.
Despite the name, it is not generally considered to be a member of the Caslon family of fonts.
It is popular today when a "old-fashioned" or "gothic" look is desired. It is used by the musical group The Sisters of Mercy on their albums, for the logo of the musical Les Misérables, and for the covers of the books in A Series of Unfortunate Events. It is also frequently used on historical displays. Most recently, it has been used on promotional material for the smash musical Monty Python's Spamalot on Broadway, the West End, and its tour of the United States.
An italic variant of the font is also available.