Solopedia - The search for digital fonts that match The Solotype Catalog

HVB · March 25, 2012

This topic was imported from the Typophile platform

What follows is the text of a recent post (by "Character") to comp.fonts.

The Solopedia Project

A compendium of digital fonts that match the typefaces displayed in "The Solotype Catalog of 4,147 Display Typefaces" (1992, by Dan X. Solo, Dover Publications, 1992)

Towards the end of 2009, "Fontana" issued a spreadsheet containing a list of the typefaces contained in the Solotype Catalog. At the same time, "Character" was preparing a similar concordance, which wasn't nearly as far along as Fontana's, so her spreadsheet became the template for the project.

Since then Character has taken the reins, and with the contributions, ideas, and assistance of many others, has been publishing an updated version monthly. This is posted to alt.binaries.fonts (a usenet group) and to annexcafe.fonts (a newsgroup on a stand-alone news server).

The name "Solopedia" was suggested by "La Vie Dansante" and has since become the name generally used for the spreadsheet, the project and associated web pages.

A web-friendly current version of the Solopedia can be found at: http://fontek.fateback.com/

There are also related pages that include references to all of Dan Solo's Alphabet books, http://fontek.fateback.com/alphabet_book_fonts.htm

No organized search for fonts matching those in the alphabet books has been undertaken; many of the alphabets are already represented in the Solotype Catalog.

Note that except as designers and foundries are listed in the Solopedia, this is not a source for the identified digital versions. The fontek website has added many links to commercial distributors such as MyFonts, and links to sources for the numerous legitimately free fonts that have been identified. Some of these free fonts have been created as a result of the Solopedia Project, as have some commercial fonts.

In March, 2012, in Annexcafe.fonts, "Tommy" asked about the goal of the Solopedia, to which Fontana provided the following eloquent response:

------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

FWIW: Here is a little about the emotion and affection I think is helping to sustain the Solopedia project.

Whatever its flaws, the once widely-circulated and affordable Dover-published "Solotype Catalog .." was either the original introduction (or one of several introductory sources) for typeface appreciation and desire for many hobbyists. Without exhaustive coverage (impossible), that publication successfully communicated the idea that typefaces exist in astonishing variety and that studying them can be fascinating and fun. It still gives me a smile just to flip through its pages. (Or maybe I am just easily amused?)

For one, I did not even realize at the time I encountered the Solocat that other typeface catalogs even existed. (Silly ignorance; typesetting and print shops had to buy them somewhere.) The idea that there might be access to digital versions of many, even most of the quirky faces for play or even practical purposes seemed almost too good to be true. Not only has the project already located more digital equivalents than any of the participants once thought possible, but it has spurred a number of volunteers more talented than I to create over a hundred new digitizations of Solo faces where none previously existed. Unexpected delight.

Collecting free and affordable typefaces appeals to me more than collecting insects, matchbooks, coins, stamps, or a variety of other collectibles -- though perhaps for some of the same reasons that collectors in those hobbies are excited about their interest. Once "hooked" on the idea, the project apparently seems self-evidently worthwhile to a number of the participants. I much appreciate how much farther it has developed collectively than any of us could have taken it as a (pun intended) solo task. A pleasant shock.

I am guardedly hoping that someday someone will at least discover and share the provenance of the mystery faces from pages 192 to 202. Though some are standards, and some look like they could be from a single vendor collection, others among them don't produce a single Google hit, and don't seem to match designs known by other names. A few examples: British, Callorte, Clova, Hotspur, Jaeger, Lothario, Monkton, Rivington. [Ed. note: Digitized matches for British, Callorte, Jaeger, Lothario, and Monkton, have since been found. Fontana herself found a light version of Hotspur.]

The typeface community seems populated by friendly, intelligent, helpful, generous people with a great sense of humor. Sometimes a visit is a warm vacation from a colder, harsher world. Contributing to the hobby can be a way to virtually hang out with these good folk. Wow, if I wax any more poetic I'll have to switch to iambic pentameter or add a music track.

Hugs to whomever wants them.

Fontana --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Additional matches are more than welcome. Information can be posted here; use the work Solopedia in the subject.

- Herb

Nick Shinn · March 26, 2012

I decline to be interested in old types, generically or theoretically.
I gave up reading this post pretty quickly.
However, if you show me something, it may catch my interest …

Riccardo Sartori · March 26, 2012

Optikos, as seen here (http://books.google.it/books?id=wIBUC2jFh_oC&pg=PA193), looks like a modification of Revue (http://www.myfonts.com/search/revue/).

oldnick · March 26, 2012

Here are a few more…

[inverse of] Acier Noir (55) - http://www.myfonts.com/fonts/nicksfonts/nord-express-nf/nord-express-nf/

Adomis Handletter (88) - http://www.myfonts.com/fonts/nicksfonts/melvin-eustace-nf/

Antikva Margaret (129) - http://www.myfonts.com/fonts/nicksfonts/olde-megrat-nf/

Archie (57) - http://www.myfonts.com/fonts/nicksfonts/best-gal-betty-nf/best-gal-betty/

Binderstile Bold (167) - http://www.myfonts.com/fonts/nicksfonts/bindlestiff-nf/bindlestiff-nf/

Blackline (54) - http://www.myfonts.com/fonts/nicksfonts/linea-nera-nf/

Dolmen Decorated (57) - http://www.myfonts.com/fonts/nicksfonts/salzmann-deco-nf/deco/

Domino (139) - http://www.myfonts.com/fonts/nicksfonts/idle-fancy-nf/

Chris G · March 26, 2012

I decline to be interested in old types, generically or theoretically.
I gave up reading this post pretty quickly.
However, if you show me something, it may catch my interest.

Quickly, someone do something, you're about to lose him...

HVB · March 26, 2012

OldNick: Thank you for your matches. I've forwarded the great additional information you've provided. It should be included in the forthcoming March update.

Based on the alphabetic matches, I'll bet that your portfolio has many more that haven't previously been identified! Thanks again.

- Herb VB

Té Rowan · March 27, 2012

There's something cock-eyed somewhere *looks pointedly at Nick Shinn* but millenium hand and shrimp if I can point out what.

oldnick · March 27, 2012

A few more...

Charette (117) - http://www.myfonts.com/fonts/nicksfonts/jeanneret-nf/
Crazy Eights (23) - http://www.myfonts.com/fonts/nicksfonts/yum-yum-nf/
Cubist (48) - http://www.myfonts.com/fonts/nicksfonts/bric-a-braque-nf/
Eagle Bold (169) - http://www.myfonts.com/fonts/nicksfonts/resolute-nf/
Elefanta (44) - http://www.myfonts.com/fonts/nicksfonts/elefantasia-nf/
Fat Cat (48) - http://www.myfonts.com/fonts/nicksfonts/katzenfatzen-nf/
Godiva (42 ) - http://www.myfonts.com/fonts/nicksfonts/kunstgewerbe-nf/

oldnick · March 27, 2012

Overlooked this one earlier...

Arcadian (27, 59) - http://www.myfonts.com/fonts/nicksfonts/double-d-nf/

HVB · March 27, 2012

Wonderful! I'm beginning to realize why so many of the Solotype catalog fonts look so familiar. Because I saw them at Nick's Fonts first!

Ryan Maelhorn · March 28, 2012

Up next, Linopedia! The search for digital (free) fonts that match The Linotype Catalog! Hurrrrrrrrayyy!!!!!!!!!!

(go kill yourself)

oldnick · March 28, 2012

Hey, what about reasonably priced fonts?

Different people have different interests; simply because those interests don't coincide with one's own doesn't mean one should blithely dismiss the project (à la Nick Shinn), nor hold it in complete contempt (à la Ryan Maelhorn ). Can we have a Rodney King moment here, folks?

HVB · March 28, 2012

Ryan

The Solotype catalog is a catalog of images and does NOT represent fonts available from Dan Solo, although he DID digitize some of them, and they are of course listed in the Solopedia. If you're not familiar with it, the catalog was produced as list of services he offered at his printshop from the mid 1930's through the mid 90's, including special effects as well as font selection.

In no way is the Solopedia an attempt to identify free clones, as you intimate. I haven't looked with that in mind, but I'd estimate that 90% of the identified digitizations are commercial fonts from such sources as Nicksfonts, Linotype, URW, etc. Where free fonts are known, they are also listed; in some cases they are the only known digitization, while in others they may be equivalent or inferior to commercial equivalents, and yes, unfortunately, some are known to be clones from such sour ces as Opti/Castcraft, WSI, and SouthernSoftware.

- Herb.

Frank U. Finkelstein · March 28, 2012

>Up next, Linopedia!

I've dribbled drool on the Solotype Catalog. Linotype isn't nearly as sexy.

— Frank U.

paul d hunt · March 28, 2012

P22 Kilkenney is my digitization of Nymphic by Hermann Ihlenberg. The Solotype showing was one of my main sources for this revival.

Riccardo Sartori · April 3, 2012

In an older thread I found this link:
http://home.planet.nl/~voogt053/FontSources.htm
It’s a sort of “Curtispedia” ;-)
It lists sources for a number of Nick’s fonts, including Solo’s catalogues.

HVB · April 4, 2012

Yes, thank you. There are also number of his fonts there that match the Solo catalog but came from different sources (likely the same sources as Solo's). Those are much harder to find and identify!

- Herb

Diner · April 6, 2012

I'm surprised this hasn't been pointed out yet, but the majority of the fonts contained within the Solotype library have already been identified as having been created by Filmotype, a company I acquired and have been in the process of redigitizing these original works for some time now with a junto of professional typefaces designers.

I'll take this opportunity to remind folks that unlike the House Industries acquisition and redigitization of the Photo Lettering Inc librar which is a closed and private effort, any professional typeface designers with at least 40 professional quality faces under their belt can participate in the redigitization of the Filmotype library.

eliason · April 6, 2012

professional typeface designers with at least 40 professional quality faces under their belt

I'm just curious--How many people do you think are in that pool?

oldnick · April 6, 2012

I'm just curious--How many people do you think are in that pool?

A fair number, and a few more...

Thomas Phinney · April 11, 2012

oldnick: The question was about how many type designers, not how many typefaces.

oldnick · April 11, 2012

Thomas,

The first part of my response addressed the incidental question of “how many designers”; the second part was related to the subject of the thread.

Diner · April 12, 2012

The current Junto includes Ale Paul, Jim Lyles, Patrick Griffin, Mark Simonson, Rian Hughes, Charles Gibbons and I . . . All of whom have developed at least this number of quality typefaces which means we want to keep the bar high for the quality of the revivals we create.

We're certainly looking to expand this group and we have a defined set of standards we adhere to when we create the revivals.

hrant · April 12, 2012

How many typefaces has Slimbach designed?

hhp

Riccardo Sartori · April 12, 2012

34? http://www.myfonts.com/person/Robert_Slimbach/

Solopedia - The search for digital fonts that match The Solotype Catalog

Recommended Posts

Create an account or sign in to comment

Create an account

Sign in

Our typography network

Recent Discussions

Important Information