Category Serif Classification Old Style Designer(s) William Caslon I Foundry Caslon Type Foundry Caslon Shown here: Adobe Caslon by Carol Twombly William Caslon's 1734 Specimen sheet, some of which is set in the Caslon typeface Caslon the in set is which of some sheet, Specimen 1734 Caslon's William History Several revivals of Caslon do not include a bold weight. Caslon is cited as the first original typeface of Eng- This is because it was unusual to use bold weights in lish origin. Caslon's earliest design dates to 1722. The typesetting during the 18th century, and Caslon nev- Caslon legacy began in 1725 with the founding of the er designed one. For emphasis, italics or a larger point Caslon Type Foundry. In 1734, Caslon’s first one-page size, and sometimes caps and small caps would be used specimen was produced, illustrating forty-seven of his instead. typefaces, including Caslon. The founts cut by Caslon It should be noted, that some revivals have little or and his son, were close copies of the Dutch Old face nothing in common with the 18th century type cut by cut by Van Dyck. These founts were rather fashion- Caslon, besides the serifs and the name. able at that time. The alternative founts they cut for text were a smaller, rather than a condensed letter. Revivals The Caslon types were distributed throughout the With the rise of hot metal typesetting beginning at the British Empire, including British North America. Much close of the 19th century, existing foundry metal typefac- of the decayed appearance of early American printing es such as Caslon's had to be adapted to specific type- is thought to be due to oxidation caused by long expo- setting technology. This was true again with phototype- sure to seawater during transport from England to the setting, mostly in the 1960s and 1970s, and then again Americas. Caslon's types were immediately successful with digital typesetting technology, mostly since the and used in many historic documents, including the U.S. mid-1980s. As a result of that, and the lack of trademark Declaration of Independence and the US constitution. on the name "Caslon" by itself, there are many typefaces called "Caslon" with some other distinguishing element, After William Caslon I’s death, the use of his types which reproduce the original designs in varying degrees diminished, but had a revival between 1840–80 as a part of faithfulness. of the British Arts and Crafts movement. The Caslon design is still widely used today. For many years a com- In 1990 Carol Twombly used the specimen pages of the mon rule of thumb of printers and typesetters was When late Caslon to update the font as Adobe Caslon Pro. in doubt, use Caslon. Characteristics Caslon is a group of serif typefaces de- signed by William Caslon I (1692–1766), and various revivals thereof. Caslon shares the irregularity characteris- tic of Dutch Baroque types. It is charac- Regular REGULAR Regular terized by: • short ascenders and descenders, Italic ITALIC ITALIC • bracketed serifs, • moderately high contrast, Semibold SEMIBOLD Semibold • robust texture • moderate modulation of stroke. • The A has a concave hollow at the apex Semibold italic SEMIBOLD ITALIC • the G is without a spur. SEMIBOLD ITALIC • Caslon’s italics have a rhythmic cal- ligraphic stroke. OLD • Characters A, V, and W have an acute Bold BOLD B slant. • The italic p, Q, v, w, and z all have a Bold Italic BOLD ITALIC BOLD ITALIC suggestion of a swash. A B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U aV b c Wd e f gX h i Yj k lZ m n1 2 3 4 5 6o 7 8 9 0 p q r s t u v w x y z 20,000 LEAGUES UNDER THE SEA The year 1866 was signalised by a remarkable incident, HAPTER HIFTING EEF C 1 A S R a mysterious and puzzling phenomenon, which doubtless no one has yet forgotten. Not to mention rumours which The year 1866 was signalised by a remarkable agitated the maritime population and excited the public incident, a mysterious and puzzling phe- mind, even in the interior of continents, seafaring men nomenon, which doubtless no one has yet were particularly excited. Merchants, common sailors, forgotten. Not to mention rumours which captains of vessels, skippers, both of Europe and America, agitated the maritime population and excit- naval officers of all countries, and the Governments of several States on the two continents, were deeply inter- ed the public mind, even in the interior of ested in the matter. continents, seafaring men were particularly excited. The year 1866 was signalised by a remarkable incident, a mysterious and puzzling phenomenon, The year 1866 was signalised by a remarkable inci- which doubtless no one has yet forgotten. Not to dent, a mysterious and puzzling phenomenon, which mention rumours which agitated the maritime doubtless no one has yet forgotten. Not to mention population and excited the public mind, even in the rumours which agitated the maritime population and interior of continents, seafaring men were particu- excited the public mind, even in the interior of conti- larly excited. Merchants, common sailors, captains nents, seafaring men were particularly excited. of vessels, skippers, both of Europe and America, naval officers of all countries, and the Govern- The year 1866 was signalised by a remarkable incident, a ments of several States on the two continents, were mysterious and puzzling phenomenon, which doubtless deeply interested in the matter. no one has yet forgotten. Not to mention rumours which agitated the maritime population and excited the public The year 1866 was signalised by a remarkable inci- mind, even in the interior of continents, seafaring men dent, a mysterious and puzzling phenomenon, which were particularly excited. doubtless no one has yet forgotten. Not to mention rumours which agitated the maritime population and The year 1866 was signalised by a remarkable incident, a mysterious and puzzling phenomenon, which doubtless no one excited the public mind, even in the interior of conti- has yet forgotten. Not to mention rumours which agitated the nents, seafaring men were particularly excited. Mer- maritime population and excited the public mind, even in the chants, common sailors, captains of vessels, skippers, interior of continents, seafaring men were particularly excited. both of Europe and America, naval officers of all coun- tries, and the Governments of several States on the The year 1866 was signalised by a remarkable incident, a mysterious and puzzling phenomenon, which doubtless no one has yet forgotten. two continents, were deeply interested in the matter. Not to mention rumours which agitated the maritime population and excited the public mind, even in the interior of continents, seafaring men were particularly excited. The year 1866 was signalised by a remarkable incident, a mysterious and puz- zling phenomenon, which doubtless no one has yet forgotten. Not to mention rumours which agitated the maritime population and excited the public mind, even in the interior of continents, seafaring men were particularly excited. Merchants, common sailors, captains of vessels, skippers, both of Europe and America, naval officers of all countries, and the Governments of several States on the two continents, were deeply interested in the matter..