A single line of type, identified as "Ornamented No. 5" and spelling out "ROPE ONIONS", from the 1888 MacKellar, Smiths & Jordan specimen book provided the pattern for this whimsical face. Offbeat yet elegant, graceful yet bold, it’s a natural choice for distinctive headlines. Both versions of the font include 1252 Latin, 1250 CE (with localization for Romanian and Moldovan).

In his book Victorian Display Alphabets, Dan X. Solo called this specimen "Marquette". This unicase version features a complete character set, and is named after a favorite watering hole in Texas on the Guadeloupe River. Both versions of this font contain the Unicode 1252 (Latin) and Unicode 1250 (Central European) character sets, with localization for Romanian and Moldovan.

This elegant face with a few semi-script flourishes is based on Morris Fuller Benton’s Announcement Roman, designed for American Type Founders in 1917. It’s perfect for invitations, programs and all kinds of formal ballyhoo. All versions of this font include the Unicode 1250 Central European character set in addition to the standard Unicode 1252 Latin set.

A collision between fine, fat caps developed by legendary letterer Alf Becker, and a squirrely, curly, uncredited lowercase uncovered by artist Leslie Cabarga produced this merry romp through the alphabet. The Postscript and Truetype versions contain a complete Latin language character set (Unicode 1252); in addition, the Opentype version supports Unicode 1250 (Central European) languages as well.

This casual, carefree face is based on a showcard alphabet presented by Cecil Wade in his Manual of Lettering. Its extrabold weight, sketchy styling and playful letterforms make it perfect for attention-getting headlines. Both versions of this font contain the Unicode 1252 Latin and Unicode 1250 Central European character sets, with localization for Romanian and Moldovan.

The 1900 specimen book of the Leipzig foundry Schelter & Giesecke featured this curious hybrid of blackletter and Art Nouveau, under the name Petrarka. Its narrow footprint and large x-height make it an ideal choice for headlines which harken both forward and back. Both versions contain the complete Latin 1252, Central European 1250 and Turkish 1254 character sets.

This curious little gem is patterned after a typeface named "Bloomsbury", released by P. M. Shanks & Sons, Ltd. of London in the 1920s. Its gentle curves and somewhat quirky construction combine to create a warm and friendly, if slightly offbeat, antique charm. Both versions of the font include 1252 Latin, 1250 CE (with localization for Romanian and Moldovan).

A 1947 timetable for—who’d a-thunk it?—Arizona Airways provided the pattern for this unusual, yet endearing, face. Its Art-Deco-meets-Apache vibe ensures that your headlines will be warmly received. Both versions include the complete Unicode Latin 1252, Central European 1250 and Turkish 1254 character sets, as well as localization for Lithuanian, Moldovan and Romanian.

This charming, disarming, roly-poly typeface is based on handlettering discovered on a Sabena Airlines travel brochure of the 1930s. Include it in your next project, and a good time will be had by all. Both versions of this font contain complete Unicode 1252 (Latin) and Unicode 1250 (Central European) character sets, with localization for Romanian and Moldovan.

Here’s another gem pulled from the pages of one of the many editions of Pen and Brush Lettering by the Blandford Press. Cascading bubbles add a somewhat 70s feel to a distinctly Deco font, and provide its name as well. Both versions of the font include 1252 Latin, 1250 CE (with localization for Romanian and Moldovan).

This elegant titling face is based on an American Type Founders release from the 1920s named Sterling. Hairline serifs and graceful curves give this typeface a certain grace and charm that will brighten up any project. All versions of this font include the Unicode 1250 Central European character set in addition to the standard Unicode 1252 Latin set.

An undeniably Art Deco font with some unexpected twists and turns, this typeface is based on a design originally called "Dignity Roman", a product of the fevered imagination of the rather unconventional 30s lettering artist Alphonse E. Tripp. Both versions of the font include the 1252 Latin and 1250 CE character sets (with localization for Romanian and Moldovan).

This typeface is an amalgam of two cut-paper typefaces, as presented by Margaret Shepherd in her book, Calligraphic Alphabets Made Easy. Also included are a glue bottle at the bar position, and round-edge scissors at the dagger and double-dagger positions. Both versions of the font include 1252 Latin, 1250 CE (with localization for Romanian and Moldovan).

This late Victorian typeface flirts with Art Nouveau sensibilities, as evidenced by the graceful curves and the decorative crossmembers in several of the uppercase letters. The result is a font that combines simple, understated elegance with a no-nonsense, workmanlike stance. Both versions of the font include 1252 Latin, 1250 CE (with localization for Romanian and Moldovan).

Baby Fat, designed by Milton Glaser in 1964, saw a lot of action during the psychedelic poster phase. This little dumpling is based on that workhorse, and takes its name from a phrase that also got around a lot in the 60s. Both versions of the font include 1252 Latin, 1250 CE (with localization for Romanian and Moldovan).

This new and improved version of this chunky classic by Paul Carlyle and Gus Oring includes the lowercase letters not found in earlier versions. Use it to add a little—or a lot of—panoramic panache to your next project. Both versions of the font include 1252 Latin and 1250 CE (with localization for Romanian and Moldovan) character sets.

Lettering on a 1928 poster for the Delftsh Studenten Corp provided the inspiration for this campy—and camp-like—typeface. Use it anytime you want to capture a nostalgic, outdoorsy vibe. Both versions include the complete Unicode Latin 1252, Central European 1250 and Turkish 1254 character sets, as well as localization for Lithuanian, Moldovan and Romanian.

This snappy little number was inspired by a PLINC typeface by Murray Fuchs called Erwin, which has been redrawn and improved for the digital age. Use Contextual Alternates to "bounce" the text, and Discretionary Ligatures to enable some interlocking letter combinations. Both versions of this font include the complete Latin 1252 and Central European 1250 character sets.

This loopy offering is patterned after a typeface from the 1888 specimen book from the Central Type Foundry of St. Louis, called simply "Spiral". The ragged contours on the original face have been smoothed out, but it still is an attention-getter. Both versions of this font include the complete Unicode Latin 1252 and Central European 1250 character sets.

This typeface family includes Spanish Roman letters and “Griffo” style italics, both hand-drawn by Francisco Lucas in Madrid, 1577. The letters, sometimes slightly mismatched in size or off the baseline, capture the look and feel of sixteenth-century printing. Both versions of the font include 1252 Latin, 1250 CE (with localization for Romanian and Moldovan).

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.

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.

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.

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).

Two classics from American Type Founders specimen catalogs of the 1880s—Othello and ATF Black Caps—inspired this powerful headline face with a decidedly menacing quality. Suitable for creepy, eerie and spooky occasions. Both versions of the font include complete Latin 1252, Central European 1250 and Turkish 1524 character sets, with localization for Moldovan, Romanian and Turkish.

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.

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 family of faces take their inspiration from the standard faces used by the Leroy® Automatic Lettering Machine, a mainstay for architects and draftsmen in Ye Olden Days of t-squares and triangles. Crisp, clean and retro-techno. Both versions of this font include the complete Latin 1252, Central European 1250 and Turkish 1254 character sets.

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.

Another addition to the Whiz-Bang Wood Type series is this ultra-condensed font, well suited for very large headlines. Named for the body of water which separates Padre Island from the mainland of Texas. Both versions of this font contain the Unicode 1252 (Latin) and Unicode 1250 (Central European) character sets, with localization for Romanian and Moldovan.

Here's a stencil version of another Nick's Fonts typeface based on Chic, a Morris Fuller Benton creation for American Type Founders from the 1920s. Stylish and sophisticated as always, and now with an arts-and-crafts flair. Both versions of this font include the Unicode Latin 1252 and 1250 Central European character sets, with localization for Moldovan and Romanian.

Here's an amalgam of letterforms from two giants of the handlettering pantheon: an uppercase based on the work of Mike Stevens, and a lowercase based on the work of Alf Becker. The two work in perfect harmony to create warm, friendly and engaging headlines. Both versions contain the complete Latin 1252, Central European 1250 and Turkish 1254 character sets.

A 1905 poster for the Austrian National Highway by artist Gustav Jahn inspired the letterforms for this typeface. In the spirit of comity, Barnhart Brothers & Spindler's Publicity Gothic Initial Caps inspired the uppercase treatment. Both versions of this font contain the Unicode 1252 (Latin) and Unicode 1250 (Central European) character sets, with localization for Romanian and Moldovan.

A playful Art Deco face from master penman Samuel Welo is combined with design elements used in 1930s signage to create this architectural face. End caps are created with {brackets} and spaces with the design elements are _underscores. Both versions of this font support the Latin 1252, Central European 1250, Turkish 1254 and Baltic 1257 codepages.

A typeface named Sorbonne, unearthed by intrepid font-finder Dan X. Solo, provided the pattern for this quaint little charmer. The exaggerated serifs make it stand out in a crowd, while still retaining an understated elegance. This font contains the complete Latin language character set (Unicode 1252) plus support for Central European (Unicode 1250) languages as well.

Handlettering on a 1929 brochure for the P&O British-India Steamship Line inspired this tiddly typeface. Art Deco sensibilities combine with a playful attitude to yield a delightful and amusing headline font. The PC PostScript, TrueType and OpenType versions contain the complete Latin language character set (Unicode 1252) plus support for Central European (Unicode 1250) languages as well.

J. M. Bergling called the inspiration for this typeface “modern”—at least, it passed for modern in 1914. Its bold, sinuous forms and unusual decorative treatment suggest stained glass of a certain era, and so its name is German for “Arts and Crafts”. Both versions of the font include 1252 Latin, 1250 CE (with localization for Romanian and Moldovan).

Linotype Syntax™ Letter is reminiscent of the style of the Roman Rustic capitals and is an earthy, almost snappy companion to the other Linotype Syntax™ typefaces. Instead of subtly expressing the rhythmic dynamism of handwritten letters, this face is more overt about its connections to writing movements, such as the lead-in and exiting terminals, and the organic branching of round strokes from main stems. Linotype Syntax Letter was designed especially for office communications, and it does add a warmer, more personal touch to such documents — while still combining nicely with the more formal Syntax relatives. With six weights, their matching italics, as well as small caps and old style figures, this typeface family has a total of 24 weights.

This is the definitive standard African font. It combines wonderful readability with tremendous panache. The fact that it has a full character set (UPPER and lower case), all punctuation and all special characters, means that it can be used in just about any African design context. If you had only one African font in your arsenal, it would have to be Aarde Black. The name "Aarde" means "earth" and refers to the gutsy, earthy character of the letterforms. It includes a full character set: characters for English, French, Italian, German, and Portuguese. The numerals are mono-spaced, and are very readable so that they will line up correctly in columns of figures. The letters of the alphabet are correctly kerned so that they appear correctly in text.