Earliest Documented Existence of Use of Sans Serif Font on Sheffield Maker's Stamps

laEspadaAncha · 28th February 2012, 01:46 AM

Okay... as an antecedent to the discussion, we must first establish a timeline for the appearance and the use of the sans-serif font. Once again, sans serif fonts are those which lack the little extensions, or "serifs," otherwise present at the end of the strokes of (Latin) letters.

Fortunately, there is a nice and tidy compilation of historical documentation from which such an establishment is nothing other than a formality.

Here we see a partial print from a document entitled "Design for a British Senate House" which was exhibited at the Royal Academy in London in 1779:

According to typologist James Mosely, the origin of the sans-serif font dates to the Classical Revival period that began in the 18th century, and he cites its first known appearance in England as early as 1748, in Stourhead (see here).

From his same typographic journal, he states the font was appearing in print media by 1805, in European Magazine, a London-based publication.

As per Mosely, the Ordnance Survey, the government institution charged with domestic cartographic functions, began using copperplate engravings with sans-serif letters in 1816, establishing the adaptation of a sans-serif font by the government of the United Kingdom well within the first quarter of the 19th century.

1816 also saw the first production of a sans-serif printing type, by William Carlson IV, which he produced in his own foundry (see here).

However, he referred to his font by a different name, and another fourteen years would elapse before another founder (Figgins) first used the term "Sans Serif" to describe the font which had already been in use commercially for well over a decade.

Therefore, it is established the sans serif font not only existed, but was in use in England as early as the mid-18th century, and by 1816, founders were commercially producing a sans-serif typeface. Any claim that the font didn't come into use until after 1870 is historically inaccurate and demonstrably false.

It is thus entirely reasonable to consider that this typeface was used by English cutlers long before 1870.

In my next post, I will post several examples of knives dating to the mid-19th century that clearly show the use of a sans-serif font in the stamps present on their blades.

28th February 2012, 01:46 AM	#3
laEspadaAncha Member Join Date: Aug 2006 Posts: 608	Okay... as an antecedent to the discussion, we must first establish a timeline for the appearance and the use of the sans-serif font. Once again, sans serif fonts are those which lack the little extensions, or "serifs," otherwise present at the end of the strokes of (Latin) letters. Fortunately, there is a nice and tidy compilation of historical documentation from which such an establishment is nothing other than a formality. Here we see a partial print from a document entitled "Design for a British Senate House" which was exhibited at the Royal Academy in London in 1779: According to typologist James Mosely, the origin of the sans-serif font dates to the Classical Revival period that began in the 18th century, and he cites its first known appearance in England as early as 1748, in Stourhead (see here). From his same typographic journal, he states the font was appearing in print media by 1805, in European Magazine, a London-based publication. As per Mosely, the Ordnance Survey, the government institution charged with domestic cartographic functions, began using copperplate engravings with sans-serif letters in 1816, establishing the adaptation of a sans-serif font by the government of the United Kingdom well within the first quarter of the 19th century. 1816 also saw the first production of a sans-serif printing type, by William Carlson IV, which he produced in his own foundry (see here). However, he referred to his font by a different name, and another fourteen years would elapse before another founder (Figgins) first used the term "Sans Serif" to describe the font which had already been in use commercially for well over a decade. Therefore, it is established the sans serif font not only existed, but was in use in England as early as the mid-18th century, and by 1816, founders were commercially producing a sans-serif typeface. Any claim that the font didn't come into use until after 1870 is historically inaccurate and demonstrably false. It is thus entirely reasonable to consider that this typeface was used by English cutlers long before 1870. In my next post, I will post several examples of knives dating to the mid-19th century that clearly show the use of a sans-serif font in the stamps present on their blades. Last edited by laEspadaAncha; 28th February 2012 at 04:08 AM.