Berthold Block

Block
Category Sans-serif
Designer(s) Hermann Hoffmann
Foundry H. Berthold
Date created 1908

Berthold Block is a sans-serif typeface released by H. Berthold and intended for display use.[1] Block has a chunky design suitable for headings, with short descenders allowing tight linespacing and rounded corners.[2][3] Several re-releases and digitisations exist, some "distressed" in style matching the effect of worn type and rapid printing. It is sometimes simply called "Block". Font design expert Stephen Coles describes it as "a soft but substantial display face with compact dimensions and an organic appearance…[it] isn’t meant for body copy."[4]

History

The cover of a 1921 specimen of Berthold Block. Note the alternate 'S' on SW.

The Block design has been credited by the Klingspor Museum to Hermann Hoffmann, who managed type design for Berthold in this period.[5][6] It was released in 1908; Berthold later added additional weights and styles, also releasing phototypesetting versions.[7][8] It was often used by Praktiker and by the Whitechapel Art Gallery for branding in the 1970s and 80s.[9][10]

Block was one of Berthold's most popular typefaces, and was released in a wide range of versions, including lighter weights and type in wood (for large sizes) and hard-wearing steel.[11] Some print versions had stylistic alternate characters, such as a more compact 'S'.[12] Berthold also used the name "Block" for a number of other typefaces not particularly closely related to it as a brand extension marketing strategy. These included the script font "Block-Signal" and the blackletter Block-Fraktur.[1]

Digitisations

Berthold Block in a 1928 Swiss political flyer

A variety of digitisations of Block exist, including by Berthold and successor companies and by Bitstream (the condensed weight only).[13][14][15] Paratype of Moscow released an expansion with Cyrillic characters in 1997.[2] Matthew Butterick's Hermes, released by Font Bureau, is a loose adaptation also inspired by other German grotesque typefaces of the period, adding lighter weights and unicase features.[16]

References

  1. 1 2 "Block - Fonts in Use". Fonts in Use. Retrieved 12 June 2016.
  2. 1 2 Safayev, Tagir. "Paratype Bloc". Paratype. Retrieved 12 June 2016.
  3. ↑ "Block Berthold". Typewolf. Retrieved 12 June 2016.
  4. ↑ Coles, Stephen. "In Pieces website". Fonts in Use. Retrieved 12 June 2016.
  5. ↑ "H. Berthold AG" (PDF). Klingspor Museum. Retrieved 12 June 2016.
  6. ↑ Devroye, Luc. "Hermann Hoffmann". Type Design Information. Retrieved 12 June 2016.
  7. ↑ "Schriftdesigner Hermann Hoffmann" (PDF). Klingspor Museum. Retrieved 12 June 2016.
  8. ↑ "Berthold BQ". Berthold Types. Retrieved 12 June 2016.
  9. ↑ Hardwig, Florian. "Praktiker". Fonts in Use. Retrieved 12 June 2016.
  10. ↑ "Block in Stahl-Typen". Flickr. Retrieved 17 December 2016.
  11. ↑ Coles, Stephen; Hardwig, Florian. "Berthold Block & Berliner Grotesk, 1921 Specimen". Flickr. Retrieved 17 December 2016.
  12. ↑ "Block Berthold BE". MyFonts. H. Berthold. Retrieved 12 June 2016.
  13. ↑ Ruecha, Stawix. "Amsi Pro (Block digitisation)". MyFonts. Stawix. Retrieved 12 June 2016.
  14. ↑ "Condensed Gothic 821". MyFonts. Bitstream. Retrieved 12 June 2016.
  15. ↑ Butterick, Matthew. "Hermes FB". Font Bureau. Retrieved 12 June 2016.
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