Berthold Block
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Category | Sans-serif |
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Designer(s) | Hermann Hoffman |
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][4] 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".
History
![](../I/m/Votation_Kursaals_1928.jpg)
The Block design has been credited to Hermann Hoffman, 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]
Digitisations
A variety of digitisations of Block exist, including by Berthold and successor companies and by Bitstream (the condensed weight only).[11][12][13] 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.[14]
References
- ↑ "Block - Fonts in Use". Fonts in Use. Retrieved 12 June 2016.
- 1 2 Safayev, Tagir. "Paratype Bloc". Paratype. Retrieved 12 June 2016.
- ↑ "Block Berthold". Typewolf. Retrieved 12 June 2016.
- ↑ Coles, Stephen. "In Pieces website". Fonts in Use. Retrieved 12 June 2016.
Block is a soft but substantial display face with compact dimensions and an organic appearance…[it] isn’t meant for body copy.
- ↑ "H. Berthold AG" (PDF). Klingspor Museum. Retrieved 12 June 2016.
- ↑ Devroye, Luc. "Hermann Hoffmann". Type Design Information. Retrieved 12 June 2016.
- ↑ "Schriftdesigner Hermann Hoffmann" (PDF). Klingspor Museum. Retrieved 12 June 2016.
- ↑ "Berthold BQ". Berthold Types. Retrieved 12 June 2016.
- ↑ O'Connell, Steve. "Whitechapel Art Gallery". Fonts In Use. Retrieved 12 June 2016.
- ↑ Hardwig, Florian. "Praktiker". Fonts in Use. Retrieved 12 June 2016.
- ↑ "Block Berthold BE". MyFonts. H. Berthold. Retrieved 12 June 2016.
- ↑ Ruecha, Stawix. "Amsi Pro (Block digitisation)". MyFonts. Stawix. Retrieved 12 June 2016.
- ↑ "Condensed Gothic 821". MyFonts. Bitstream. Retrieved 12 June 2016.
- ↑ Butterick, Matthew. "Hermes FB". Font Bureau. Retrieved 12 June 2016.
External links
- 1921 Berthold Block specimen (digitisation: Stephen Coles)