The inspiration for this typeface was found tucked away in what is arguably the worst book of advertising clip art ever published (cleverly entitled The Advertising Cartoon Clip Art Book from 1971). It’s so bad, it’s good—at least at getting your attention. Both versions of this font include the complete Latin 1252 and CE 1250 character sets, with localization for Romanian and Moldovan.

One in the series of fonts called Whiz-Bang Wood Type, intended to be set large and tight. Dime Box is bold and boxy, and creates an interesting visual flow with its notched serifs. Named after a small town in Texas. Both versions of this font contain the Unicode 1252 Latin and Unicode 1250 Central European character sets, with localization for Romanian and Moldovan.

A 1930s ad for—believe it or not—Orion radios provided the inspiration for this ultrabold and slightly sassy face. The radio brand didn't make it into the twenty-first century, but its signature typeface has, ready and willing to add a little pizazz to your next project. This font contains the complete Latin language character set (Unicode 1252) plus support for Central European (Unicode 1250) languages as well.

Here's a clean, simple architectural-blueprint style, eminently suitable for subheads and text blocks. Inspired by and named for a gentlewoman who gave up a career as an architect in Bolivia to care for the elderly in the United States. All versions of this font include the Unicode 1250 Central European character set in addition to the standard Unicode 1252 Latin set.

In his book Showcard Alphabets, Dan X. Solo called this little gem "Whitestone Scrawl". This version is beefed up slightly and the letter proportions have been altered somewhat, but it's still LOADS of fun. The Opentype version of this font supports Unicode 1250 (Central European) languages, as well as Unicode 1252 (Latin) languages.

This little charmer combines an uppercase designed by American lettering artist J. M. Bergling with a lowercase designed by English architect Roland W. Paul. The result has a wiggle in its walk and a giggle in its talk: oh, baby, that’s what I like! Both versions of the font include 1252 Latin, 1250 CE (with localization for Romanian and Moldovan).

The inspiration for this font made its first appearance in the 1897 American Type Founders specimen book, under the name "Lithotint". As the name suggests, the original was tinted gray (diagonal lines formed the body); this version is solid and spooky, too. The font contains a few ghostly graphics, including ghosts at the bracket positions, a haunted house at the backslash position, and a scary backdrop at the ASCII tilde and ASCII circumflex positions. Both versions of the font include 1252 Latin, 1250 CE (with localization for Romanian and Moldovan).

This rugged rascal is based on at old ATF “original” design called “Hearst” (although Frederic Goudy claimed it was a pirated version of one of his designs). Its commanding, rough-hewn character makes it suitable for headlines, but its large x-height makes it practical for subheads as well. Available in roman and italic versions. Both versions of this font include the complete Unicode 1252 Latin and Unicode 1250 Central European character sets.

Ross F. George, the lettering wizard behind many an edition of Speedball lettering books, called this quirky creation "Spatter and Spot Roman". In this version, the spatters go, but the spots remain, and a good time is had by all. Both versions of the font include the 1252 Latin and 1250 CE character sets (with localization for Romanian and Moldovan).

This playful offering, suggestive of Cooper Black on some serious drugs, is based on the so-called “California” style of lettering used extensively in travel posters of the 30s to the 50s. This version is based on its interpretation by Carl Holmes in a Walter T. Foster artbook entitled ABC of Lettering. Both versions of this font include the complete Unicode Latin 1252 and Central European 1250 character sets.

Two handlettered typefaces from J. M. Bergling’s 1914 classic, Art Alphabets and Lettering collided to produce this lively and unusual combination. The caps were originally called "Morocco", and the lowercase are taken from his Keramic Text. The result suggested more of an Egyptian flair, in an offbeat kind of way, and so it got its name. Both versions of the font include 1252 Latin, 1250 CE (with localization for Romanian and Moldovan).

This robust, roly-poly typeface is patterned after a 1974 release from the Ludwig & Mayer foundry of Frankfurt am Main named Big Band, and designed by Karlgeorg Hoefer. The type color is even darker than the original, and the result is a delightful face that will definitely attract attention. The PC Postscript, Truetype and Opentype versions contain the complete Latin language character set (Unicode 1252) plus Central European (Unicode 1250) languages as well.

Here's a page from the Page Company, circa 1850, originally called Doric. This version is reasonably faithful to the original, but streamlined for better reporduction at a variety of sizes. Both versions support the Latin 1252, Central European 1250, Turkish 1254 and Baltic 1257 codepages.

A Victorian face named Oakwood provided the pattern for this decorative little number, with its swirls and curls guaranteed to delight boys and girls, saints and churls, and dogs and squirrels…well, maybe not the last pair, but you get the idea. All versions of this font include the Unicode 1250 Central European character set in addition to the standard Unicode 1252 Latin set.

Here's a collection of Art-Noueveau-era border elements, gleaned from the pages of various German type foundry catalogs from the first decade of the twentieth century. Refer to the accompanying PDF guide for instructions on constructing twelve different, distinctive and elegant border sets.

This playful Art Deco classic was inspired by one of many posters produced by the WPA by anonymous artists during the 1930s. An inline version has been added to spice up the visual interest and add a touch of class. Both versions of the font include complete Latin 1252, Central European 1250 and Turkish 1524 character sets, with localization for Moldovan, Romanian and Turkish.

This delightful semiscript is based on an offering from a 1930s specimen book from the Mergenthaler Linotype Company, originally called, simply, "Card Italic". Elegant without being stuffy, it is equally “at home” announcing anything from formal occasions to casual get-togethers. Both versions of the font include 1252 Latin, 1250 CE (with localization for Romanian and Moldovan).

A fine, fat Deco face named Ludlow Stygian provided the basis for this delightful typeface. Although generally formal in character, the font shows a hint of playfulness in the distinctive “humpback” h and n characters. This font contains the complete Latin language character set (Unicode 1252) plus support for Central European (Unicode 1250) languages as well.

Variations on a theme by Nicholas J. Werner for St. Louis' Inland Type Foundry provided the pattern for this happy family, released in 1895 and 1899. Both flavors of this font feature the 1252 Latin, 1250 Central European, 1254 Turkish and 1257 Baltic character sets.

Another gem from the Blandford Press Pen and Brush Lettering and Practical Alphabets, this in-your-face typeface features strong geometric elements, delineated in blueprint fashion. A surefire attention-getter. Both versions of the font include the 1252 Latin and 1250 CE character sets (with localization for Romanian and Moldovan).

A hundred-year-old offering from Bauer & Company, named simply "Manuscript," provided the inspiration for this elegant script face. The name translates as Bavaria Handwriting.

Tucked inside the November 5, 1927 issue of a German signpainters' trade paper was a single sheet headed Der Schilder und Schriftenmaler, which featured an alphabet called "Neue Fraktur". An exuberant (if somewhat unconventional) combination of Art Deco sensibilities and blackletter forms, the font retains its freshness, even today. Included in this version are Deco bishops fingers at the bar and broken bar positions, and a styling, horn-blowing herald at ASCII circumflex and tilde positions. Both versions of the font include 1252 Latin and 1250 CE (with localization for Romanian and Moldovan) character sets.

A sign at the 81st Street (Museum of Natural History) New York subway stop provided the pattern for this mosaic tile face. The font features a full-tile background at the bar position (shift-backslash) and left-and-right pointing fists at the brace positions as well as complete Latin 1252 and Central European 1250 character sets.

The exuberant, if somewhat unorthodox, letter stylings of British poster artist Cecil Wade inspired this offering. The font has extensive kerning to keep the letters packed tight. Both versions of the font include the 1252 Latin and 1250 CE character sets (with localization for Romanian and Moldovan).

This little gem is based on a typeface discovered in a Boston Type Foundry catalog from the late 1800s, originally called "Mikado". This font gets its name from one of the more memorable characters in Gilbert and Sullivan’s operetta. Both versions of this font include the complete Unicode Latin 1252 and Central European 1250 character sets.

The letterforms for this unusual display face were inspired by a 1930s ad for Tanguy Crepes, by an uncredited artist. Due to the ornate nature for this font, it has a limited character set, but does include all letters, numbers and punctuation for the Unicode 1252 Latin and 1250 Central European character sets.

Eh, what's up, Doc? This cuddly little oddball of a typeface was originally released under the rather unlikely name of Hercules by the Amsterdam Typefoundry in 1926. This face includes OpenType Stylistic Alternates for b, h, h, k and l, which feature very tall ascenders with a "bunny ear" vibe. Both versions include the complete Latin 1252, Central European 1250 and Turkish 1254 character sets, as well as localization for Moldovan and Romanian.

A few simple rules govern the letterforms of this decidedly digital-age typeface, and the nonstandard stencil treatment adds a gentle sense of motion to the overall design. Available in two weights, all versions of this font include the Unicode 1250 Central European character set in addition to the standard Unicode 1252 Latin set.

In his compilation of stencil alphabets, Dan X. Solo called this one simply "Concave Stencil". Excellent for marking cases of whiskey or gunpowder, or for setting strikingly up-to-date headlines. Both versions of this font contain the Unicode 1252 (Latin) and Unicode 1250 (Central European) character sets, with localization for Romanian and Moldovan.

Based on the typeface Sculpture, designed by Charles Allen in the 1960s for Photolettering, this font is an intriguing exercise in implicit letterforms, using cast shadows to suggest, rather than delineate. Both sublime and subliminal, it’s an excellent choice for commanding headlines. Both versions of the font include 1252 Latin, 1250 CE (with localization for Romanian and Moldovan).

Here's a refined version of Grange, released by Edinburgh's Miller & Richards foundry just around the turn of the twentieth century. A bit quirky with a lot of warmth. Both flavors of this font feature the 1252 Latin, 1250 Central European, 1254 Turkish and 1257 Baltic character sets.

Will Ransom designed the uppercase letters in this typeface for Barnhart Brothers & Spindler in the 1920s, under the name Clearcut Shaded Caps. The lowercase letters come from another BB&S typeface named Clearcut Italic. An elegant headline face, best used sparingly, the font includes decorative flourishes in the brace, bracket and en dash positions.

A sign in a London storefront, ca. 1930, pitching—surprise!—Smart Frocks provided the visual cues for designing this typeface. Singularly stylish, hip and haughty and decidedly Deco, this is the smart font to use! This font contains the complete Latin language character set (Unicode 1252) plus support for Central European (Unicode 1250) languages as well.

Originally issued by the Palmer and Rey Type Foundry of San Francisco in 1884, this typeface bore the name Octagon Condensed, and is as fresh today as it was way back when. Both versions of this font support the Latin 1252, Central European 1250, Turkish 1254 and Baltic 1257 codepages.

This rollicking fun face is based on legendary lettering artist Alf Becker's Super Thick-and-Thin, his twenty-third offering in "Signs of the Times" magazine. The package includes two fonts: a full Adobe Standard character set, and an Alternates version, which features the more extreme elements of Becker's original design.

Based on a typeface named "Titania" from a 1930s specimen book from the Fundición Richard Gans in Madrid, this exquisite design will add a touch of elegance and nostalgic charm to any project it graces.

This engaging slab serif face made its debut in the 1906 ATF specimen catalog, and wears well over a century later. Its warm lines and a wide stance ensure that your headlines will be noticed. Both versions feature the complete Latin 1252, Central European 1250 and Turskish 1254 character sets, with localization for Lithuanian, Moldovan and Romanian.

This Art Deco-inspired face is based on the Baltimore Type Foundry’s Tourist Extra Condensed. Graceful and elegant, this typeface’s compact design also packs a lot of information into very little space. This font contains the complete Latin language character set (Unicode 1252) plus support for Central European (Unicode 1250) languages as well.

Another gem found in the pages of "Alphabets A to Z": rustic and rollicking fun in one face. Both versions of this font support the Latin 1262, Central European 1250, Turkish 1254 and Baltic 1257 codepages.

A circa-1925 poster for the chanteuse Arlette Montal, signed simply "Bouchard," provided the inspiration for this roly-poly romp through the alphabet. It takes its name from a popular East Texas summertime porch dance...or not. This font contains the complete Latin language character set (Unicode 1252) plus support for Central European (Unicode 1250) languages as well.