I'm trying to ID this font from a vintage book cover (Sea and Sardina)

[Belstar]

This is the title I'm trying to ID from the first edition of Sea and Sardinia, a travel book by the English writer D. H. Lawrence. circa 1921. Thank you!

[George Thomas]

Who published the book?

[Belstar]

Wikipedia says it was first published in New York, USA in 1921 by Thomas Seltzer. If it's not an available font any similar font recommendations would be terrific 😊

[Kevin Thompson]

If you look closely at the repeating letters in the title (the |A|s, the |N|s, the |S|s) you’ll see slight variations—the letters aren’t identical.

That’s an indication of hand lettering, not typesetting. Most book titles before the advent of film typesetting in the 1940s and 1950s were hand lettered. The author’s name seems to be lettering as well.

Vaguely similar:

De Ginkgo

Cicero Roman
Toyprint

Lamp Post (a revival of Post Old Style)

1529 Champ Fleury Pro

Rosemary

Lovingly Friends

 

 

 

[Belstar]

Thank you Kevin. Some good suggestions there! 😁

[Riccardo Sartori]

To Kevin’s excellent suggestions, I would add a pair of classics: Souvenir and Benguiat (you would need to add an outline to soften it).

[Belstar]

Yes good options too. Thanks Riccardo.