One of my favorite things about these older clarendons is that the top counter on letters like the R is completely rounded off, instead of having a straight edge next to the main vertical stroke. It really looks peculiar, especially in print. One of my favorite things about collecting wood type is seeing typographic details that didn’t carry over to modern day use. This R is incredible solid, the vertical ...

I‘m not sure if this is a zero or an O, or if there is much of a difference. I can’t seem to spot on in the Rob Roy Kelly Collection’s specimen page. Regardless, it’s a great letterform. I love just how squared off the corners are, because you expect much more warmth and roundness from an O. The thin stroke weight seems to make it even more alien. This is ...

I really can’t appreciate the letter H unless it is in monumetal form like this.Huge strokes, massive serifs, incredible. This block demands respect! Because the serifs on the top and bottom nearly touch in the middle, separated by only a hairline, the letterform is almost abstracted. I love the proportions from the heavy main strokes to the thinner but still substantial crossbar and serifs. These blocks have a lot of hard ...

This is a lovely curve-centric letterform in a typeface that has no curves! The top serif is thinner than the massive one at the bottom. This letter has those great notches on the top and bottom that many of the curvilinear letterforms have. I really love the lines on this letter! The shoulder corners have rounded over from old age, and the face is covered with old ink. As with ...