This decorative delight is based on a typeface discovered within the pages of "Schriftatlas: Alphabete von A bis Z," and originally named Pygmalion. The swash caps and plain caps in the lowercase positions allow for wide-ranging creativity in the composition of dramatic headlines. Both versions include the complete Latin 1252, Central European 1250 and Turkish 1254 character sets, as well as localization for Moldovan and Romanian.

The 1923 Barnhart Brothers & Spindler specimen book called this typeface "Cardstyle", and suggested its use at small sizes for business cards. It also work quite well in large sizes when a warm, casual antique feeling is called for. Named for a river that flows through Washington, DC. Both versions of the font include the 1252 Latin and 1250 CE character sets (with localization for Romanian and Moldovan).

This distinctive titling face is based on Elegant Lichte, designed by Hans Möhring for D. Stempel in 1928, with the helpful addition of a lowercase not found in the original. It functions equally well as either a period piece or a contemporary masterpiece. Both versions include the complete Latin 1252, Central European 1250 and Turkish 1254 character sets, as wellas localization for Moldovan and Romanian.

This font features a complete uppercase alphabet, including accented characters, as well as numbers and standard punctation. Lowercase characters are an assortment of useful dings and things. To create very low-load GIFs, compose your type in Photoshop (or equivalent) at 8 point (or multiples thereof), with anti-aliasing turned off. Both versions of the font include 1252 Latin, 1250 CE (with localization for Romanian and Moldovan).

Lettering on a 1933 booklet about certain facilities in Italy -- can you guess what they might be? -- by the Bertarelli Design Studio of Milan inspired this decidedly different and engaging monocase face. If you're looking for something that says "casual elegance," this is it. This font contains the complete Latin language character set (Unicode 1252) plus support for Central European (Unicode 1250) languages as well.

A design experiment run amok! To some, the upper case A of this font resembles a diving helmet. If you put same on a guy in a gorilla suit, you have the really cheesy 50s sci-fi movie that gives the font its name. 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 another offering based on the work of Alf Becker, long-time contributor to Signs of the Times magazine. This only comes from the 1940s, and is a light and bouncy single-stroke face that’s sure to pep up any project it graces. This font contains the complete Latin language character set (Unicode 1252) plus support for Central European (Unicode 1250) languages as well.

This whimsical typeface is based on an untitled work by William Hugh Gordon in his 1931 book, Lettering for Commercial Purposes. If you are looking for a font to add warmth and quirky charm to a project, this is the one. Both versions of this font contain complete Unicode 1252 (Latin) and Unicode 1250 (Central European) character sets, with localization for Romanian and Moldovan.

The hand lettering found on the cover of the 1912 sheet music for "Somebody Else is Getting It" featured a blockish Art Nouveau style with rounded corners and a very lurid title [although it likely had a more innocent meaning in those days than the casual observer might interpret today]. Now available as Nouveau Standard JNL, it is available in both regular and oblique versions.

Here's a faithful rendering of the slightly quirky, but thoroughly yeomanlike headline face Basuto, designed by Stanley Baxter and released by the Stephenson Blake Type Foundry in 1927. Bold, brassy and a little sassy, this one will perk up your headlines fer sure. Both versions include the complete Latin 1252, Central European 1250 and Turkish 1254 character sets, as well as localization for Moldovan and Romanian.

A 1928 poster for a café by German artist Karl Bauer informed the creation of this charming and expansive typeface. This font hops, bops, flip-flops and never stops, and is named after a fictitious café which offers cool jazz and fast service. Both versions contain the complete Unicode 1252 (Latin) and Unicode 1250 (Central European) character sets, with localization for Romanian and Moldovan.

In his book, Brushstroke and Freestyle Alphabets, Dan X. Solo called this fabulous fifties face Maidstone Script. Somewhat less willowy than the original, this version is still righteously retro, and takes its name from a collision between a poodle skirt and pedalpushers, two fifties fashion statements. The Opentype version of this font supports Unicode 1250 (Central European) languages, as well as Unicode 1252 (Latin) languages.

Break out the love beads and fire up the lava lamps, and make way for this hippy, dippy homage to the Sixties. Finely tuned letterforms and extensive, thoughtful hand-kerning means your headlines will ride with the tide and go with the flow. All versions of this font include the Unicode 1250 Central European character set in addition to the standard Unicode 1252 Latin set.

No mystery here: this typeface is based on the not-often-seen Cooper Black Swash Italic, designed by Oswald Bruce Cooper. Swash variants are the norm with this font, but enabling Contextual Alternates will prevent collisions between the swash “tails” and letters with descenders. Both versions of this font contain the Unicode 1252 (Latin) and Unicode 1250 (Central European) character sets, with localization for Romanian and Moldovan.

The model for this monocase typeface was issued in the early 1900s by Barnhart Brothers & Spindler with the rather prosaic name of Steelplate. A hundred years later, it still retains its currency (ouch!), which is how it got its name. Complete Adobe character set except for superior numbers. The Opentype version of this font supports Unicode 1250 (Central European) languages, as well as Unicode 1252 (Latin) languages.

The pattern for this delightful little font was originally released as Bernhard Heavy Antique Cursive by the Bauersche Geißerei of Frankfurt am Main and designed, of course, by Lucien Bernhard. Dippy, trippy, under the radar and over the top. 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.

British poster artist Cecil Wade provided the lowercase for this typeface, and his compatriot T. G. Birtles provided the uppercase. The result is a rollicking, frolicking, bouncy romp through the alphabet, not unlike a ride in the compartment for which it is named. Both versions of this font include the complete Latin 1252 and CE 1250 character sets, with localization for Romanian and Moldovan.

The pattern for this face was designed by Will Bradley in 1894 for the cover of Inland Printer magazine, and was licensed the following year to American Type Founders. Its classic lines and condensed footprint make this typeface a natural for elegant and inviting headlines. All versions of this font include the Unicode 1250 Central European character set in addition to the standard Unicode 1252 Latin set.

Here’s another wild and wacky typeface based on handlettering found on Hallmark Studio Cards of the 1950s. All possible letter combinations have been kerned, so you can mix and match upper and lowercase letters to create just the balance you’re looking for. All versions of this font include the Unicode 1250 Central European character set in addition to the standard Unicode 1252 Latin set.

Two typefaces from the 1923 Barnhart Brothers & Spindler specimen book have been combined to produce this gem. Swagger Capitals, designed by Carl S. Junge, for the uppercase and Gothic Novelty Title for the lowercase. Named for a lively dance from the nineteenth century. Both versions of this font contain the Unicode 1252 Latin and Unicode 1250 Central European character sets, with localization for Romanian and Moldovan.

An exuberant typeface named "African Queen", designed by Dave West for Photolettering in the 1960s, provided the inspiration for this exercise in typographic minimalism. The result is stark and somewhat raw, with a unique muscular energy...a natural choice for headlines that will attract attention. Both versions of the font include 1252 Latin and 1250 CE (with localization for Romanian and Moldovan) character sets.

Woodtype wizard Rob Roy Kelly identified the inspiration for this typeface in his 100 Wood Type Alphabets simply as "No. 154". Funky, chunky, round and robust, it’s clearly a barrel of fun. Named after a small town in Central Texas, which just happens to be the home of Dell Computer. Both versions of the font include 1252 Latin, 1250 CE (with localization for Romanian and Moldovan).

Twentieth Century Poster, designed by Sol Hess for Lanston Monotype in the 1940s, provided the inspiration for this family of faces. Although, historically, the design falls outside the time period normally considered the Art Deco era, its sensibilities are pure Art Moderne. Both versions of this font contain the Unicode 1252 (Latin) and Unicode 1250 (Central European) character sets, with localization for Romanian and Moldovan.

A postcard for a 1952 DeSoto automobile, combined with the (non)sensibilities of legendary British lettering artist Cecil Wade, yielded this slightly tacky and thoroughly wacky gaggle of letters. Use liberally whenever levity, brevity (the soul of wit), or a bit of mischief is called for. Both versions of the font include 1252 Latin and 1250 CE (with localization for Romanian and Moldovan) character sets.

This delightful dervish is based on handlettering from a 1928 poster for a steamship line by renowned British artist Austin Cooper. It’s essentially a monocase font, with the exception of the letter A, which twirls in one direction in uppercase, and the opposite direction in lowercase. This font contains the complete Latin language character set (Unicode 1252) plus support for Central European (Unicode 1250) languages as well.

Put the kettle on and break out the biscuits. This no-nonsense stencil face is a faithful recreation of Tea Chest, released by the Stephenson Blake Type Foundry in 1939. Its bold strokes and slender profile retain their freshness, even seventy-plus years on. Both versions include the complete Latin 1252, Central European 1250 and Turkish 1254 character sets, as well as localization for Moldovan and Romanian.

Here’s a fresh take on a classic, Caslon Black Swash by Ed Benguiat. Big, bold and beautiful, it’s a natural choice for distinctive and attractive headlines. Several alternate lowercase characters are included in the font, in place of some math operators. 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.

Among many of Alf Becker’s contributions to Signs of the Times magazine was 1 1935 offering named Chicago Modern Thick and Thin, which provided the inspiration for this face. It’s a perfect choice for friendly headlines with an Art Deco 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.

The ATF syndicate released the inspiration for this quaint charmer in its 1884-1885 series of specimen books under its current name. Its warmth and unassuming naivete make it perfect for headlines seeking to evoke simpler times. Both versions of this font include the complete Latin 1252, Central European 1250 and Turkish 1254 character sets, along with localization for Lithuanian, Moldovan, Romanian and Turkish.

Another entry in the trusty old "Schriftatlas" named Phoenix—original source and designer unknown—provided the inspiration for this bouncy bit of alphabetical tomfoolery. Its animated typeforms, definitely retro chic, will put some bounce in the step of any headline it graces. 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 Japanese design firm called Maniackers put together a typeface design in 2001, which they called Snail. This typeface is based on that design, with a few tasty modifications and some industrial-strength kerning, so that the letters literally slither across the page. This font contains the complete Latin language character set (Unicode 1252) plus support for Central European (Unicode 1250) languages as well.

Morris Fuller Benton’s Eagle, designed for ATF in 1934, which did yeoman-like duty on many WPA posters of the time. This version, unicase as was the original, has been designed to set tight, so that it creates dense and commanding headlines. All versions of this font include the Unicode 1250 Central European character set in addition to the standard Unicode 1252 Latin set.

One in the series of fonts called Whiz-Bang Wood Type, intended to be set large and tight. Brazos is an ultrabold, ultrawide sans-serif face that takes up a lot of horizontal territory, but fits in little vertical space. Named after the famous river in Texas. Both versions of the font include the 1252 Latin and 1250 CE character sets (with localization for Romanian and Moldovan).

This rather quirky typeface is based on a design by Collette and Dufour, originally called "Independant", for the Maison Plantin foundry of Belgium. Ultramodern (by 1930s standards, at least) and ultrabold, it takes up a lot of real estate, and commands a lot of attention while doing so. Both versions of this font include the complete Unicode Latin 1252 and Central European 1250 character sets.

This rough, raw typeface is based on the lettering in Ben Shahn's iconic poster protesting the execution of Bartolomeo Vanzetti and Nicolo Sacco in 1927. All possible uppercase and lowercase forms have been kerned, and activating Contextual Alternates in OpenType-aware applications will alternate those forms for a more random appearance. Both versions contain the complete Latin 1252, Central European 1250 and Turkish 1254 character sets.

The uppercase letters of this magical, mystical face is based on various alchemical symbols used from the thirteenth through the sixteenth century; the lowercase letters are based on those found on a 1935 poster, signed simply “Strekalovsky.” Ideal for adding a little pocus to your hocus, or cadabra to your abra. Both versions of the font include 1252 Latin, 1250 CE (with localization for Romanian and Moldovan).

Another addition to the Whiz-Bang Woodtype series, this offering is patterned after a typeface issued by the old Boston firm of Baker & Greele in 1826. Named after a small town in Texas just a hop, skip and a jump from the Red River and Arkansas. Both versions of this font include the complete Latin 1252 and CE 1250 character sets, with localization for Romanian and Moldovan.

The font is named after the Armenian writer Theodoros Grigor Lapchinchian (Armenian Թեոդորոս Գրիգորի Լափչինճյան: March 5, 1873, Constantinople — May 24, 1928), who in 1912 published book "Type and Letter" (Armenian: Տիպ ու տառ), dedicated to 1500th anniversary of the creation of the Armenian alphabet and the 400th anniversary of Armenian printing. The letter shapes are influenced by some Armenian fonts of the 18th and 19th centuries.

A new take on the classic font Bodoni, revealing the structural elements of the font, and adding a little sparkle with a pseudo-stencil treatment. The font is named in honor of its original designer and also the undisputed king of the two-chord song. Both versions of the font include the 1252 Latin and 1250 CE character sets (with localization for Romanian and Moldovan).

Propaganda in a poodle skirt? Another gem gleaned from Schrifti Alphabeti, a book of Cyrillic alphabets published in Kiev (now Ukraine, then USSR) in 1979. Flouncy, bouncy, perky and quirky, this typeface will add sass and charm to any project it graces. Both versions of this font contain the Unicode 1252 Latin and Unicode 1250 Central European character sets, with localization for Romanian and Moldovan.