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Fonts on old sign at entrance to Harvard University's Lamont Library

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Hello,

I saw this old-looking paper sign posted at the entrance to Lamont Library at Harvard today and I liked its appearance. I would love to replicate it in a standard font, ideally web-safe. Can anyone identify these fonts, as well as any spacing that might have been adjusted? I have no way of knowing when this sign was posted but it looks old.

Thank you!

IMG_2563.jpeg

Solved by Riccardo Sartori

  • Solution

The bigger text appears to be Monotype Franklin Gothic:

franklin-gothic.thumb.png.cf346a68d013b5240c3a9346df14e9dc.png

which doesn’t seem to be sold anymore.

However, this style of typefaces, the so-called “American Gothics”, whose most famous iterations are Franklin/Trade/News/Alternate Gothic, are available in various widths, in any price range, from a variety of foundries.

As for the smaller text, it is possibly a regular width of the same typeface.

 

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