Cedar Street
There's something satisfying about tweaking to perfection a typeface based on the particular style of lettering applied to a particular kind of paper by a particular human hand. One day,…
Chromosome
It hit me one day that the '60s-vintage labelmaker I had lying around might make an interesting display face. I began playing with it -- clicking out letters at various…
Douglass Pen
Douglass Pen was inspired by the handwriting of Frederick Douglass, who was born an American slave but died a distinguished 19th century statesman, orator, and abolitionist leader. He also had…
Emily Austin
An indomitable woman who traveled a lot, Emily Austin (Bryan) Perry was one of the children of Moses Austin, of Austinville, Virginia. Like her famous brother, Stephen F. Austin, she…
Geographica
Thomas Jefferys (ca. 1710–1771) was the best-known map maker in 18th-century England, chiefly because he won (and hyped) the title “Geographer to King George III.” Jefferys was really more an…
Houston Pen
Early Texas patriots had fascinating penmanship. In researching Texas Hero years ago, I had occasion to pore over copies of letters by the likes of Stephen F. Austin, William B.…
Lamar Pen
Mirabeau Buonaparte Lamar had an exotic name for a historic Texan, but he left his mark beginning in 1836, the year of Texas independence and the first year that pioneers…
Marydale
While helping produce a trade magazine years ago, I admired the hand-lettering of the art director -- a woman named Marydale -- and suggested she let me model a font…
Military Scribe
The 10th Regiment of Foot is a British military unit raised more than three centuries ago—and perhaps most famous in the U.S. for seeing action on American soil during the…
Oak Street
There's a little restaurant in an old house on a sidestreet in town (Rockland, Maine, USA) called Cafe Miranda. The staff is friendly, the setting intimate, and the appetizer a…