In the 19th century, European and North American foundries cast many typefaces apt for advertising, announcements, titles and short texts. Derived from pre-existing types, the forms of which were exaggerated, these typefaces were capable to draw attention from the readers thanks to their unusual forms.
One of the most popular among them was Vincent Figgins's so-called "Egyptian" type (its name referring to Napoleon's Campaign and the archaeological finds in Egypt), which appeared in 1815 and whose slab, sturdy serifs could easily endure high print-runs.
© Photos Ottavio Atti - Archive of Styles®
Dall’inizio dell’Ottocento furono lanciati dalle grandi Fonderie europee e nordamericane grandi quantità di caratteri adatti alla pubblicità (per annunci, titoli e testi brevi), capaci di attrarre l’attenzione in virtù di forme inconsuete, desunte dai tipi preesistenti ed estremizzate.
Uno degli stili più praticati fu l’"egiziano” (in riferimento alla campagna napoleonica e alle scoperte archeologiche in Egitto) dell’inglese Vincent Figgins, apparso nel 1815, le cui grazie appesantite resistevano bene alle lunghe tirature commerciali.
© Photos Ottavio Atti – Archivio degli Stili®
