5

For some time, I've been looking for a typeface like the one pictured below. enter image description here

The font above was used in some of the earliest Jewish presses in Venice. As it is not a Latin alphabet typeface, none of the tools I usually use, such as WhatTheFont do not work. I know that it has been recreated, as I have seen it in the prayerbook used by the Italian Synagogue in Jerusalem.

Where can I find this font?

Improve this question
2
  • Daniel Bomberg was one of the earlier printers of Hebrew language books in Italy in the 1500s. While not an explicit answer to your quesiton, it could be a fun rabbit hole to go down to find out more. :) en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Daniel_Bomberg jewishvirtuallibrary.org/jsource/loc/Great.html
    – Vicki
    Oct 3, 2015 at 21:43
  • 1
    @Vicki, I've seen this printer's mark, although I did not reproduce it here, I know that it is not Bomberg's, it is his successor's. I also know that this is not Soncino, as that family was based in the town of the same name. While I have never handled (Hebrew) incunabula, I have had the luck to see reproductions of the earliest printed Jewish book (Torah with Rashi's Commentary, Soncino, 1480s).
    – NoahM
    Oct 4, 2015 at 0:36

1 Answer 1

Reset to default
2

The first printing method were often characters engraved on wooden block, not movable types as the ones used later. One way you could get some clues about this is by comparing many pages together and see if all the letters are identical or have little variations.

If you want the precise typeface from a book that goes back to the early years of printing, you might never really find it because it was entirely custom made, and even if it was a font it doesn't mean there's actually a digital version available.

But I looked online to find similar one, without the "initial style" (the background and frame). I isolated the text itself to make it easier to find something similar. It's a very unique and decorative font but it's hard to see the details or be sure what's part of it or not. If you have access to the original book, it could help a lot to trace the details and add more contrast to the scanned version. That's something that can only be done using a magnifier and reproducing the details at bigger size!

hebrew font

And I stumbled on some similar fonts, but nothing entirely identical though. I search for calligraphy and initials. Maybe by using similar keywords from the links you'll find something better. The first letter is so decorative that I really couldn't find a good match.

Oskar Font

http://www.ketubah.cz/lettering-and-paper.php

Oskar hebrew font

Name N/A (second font)

http://www.stitchesbysue.net/id56.html

enter image description here

Font package (Livorno, Peer)

The Livorno modern doesn't loo like this though.

http://davka.com/Hebrew_Fonts?product_id=110

livorno hebrew font

Improve this answer
1
  • Thanks! I was actually looking more for the initial designs
    – NoahM
    Nov 14, 2015 at 23:35

Your Answer

By clicking “Post Your Answer”, you agree to our terms of service and acknowledge that you have read and understand our privacy policy and code of conduct.

Not the answer you're looking for? Browse other questions tagged or ask your own question.