Caflisch Script: a one-axis multiple master typeface

Figure 4
Figure 5
A comparison between the early humanistic book hand of Poggio Bracciolini, 1425
(figure 4), and the first typeface used by Sweynheim and Pannartz, Subiaco, 1465
(figure 5). The early printers in Italy sought to emulate the manuscripts of the time
and produced typefaces modeled on humanistic writing. Photos: Biblioteca Medicea
Laurenziana and The Newberry Library.
Figure 6
Figure 7
A comparison of the formal chancery writing (figure 6) and italic typeface (figure 7) of
Ludovico degli Arrighi. As one of the preeminent writing masters of the Italian Renaissance,
Arrighi instilled the qualities of his written script to the medium of printing
type. Photos: A royal manuscript of Collenuccio, “Apologues,” about 1520, British Library.
Arrighi’s 2nd italic type of 1523, The Newberry Library.