As we launch into the new year, here’s a quick retrospective on 2023: Total production: 14,609 lbs of type consisting of 42 new items and 31 restocks. Orders filled: over 500. Stock in the warehouse, ready to ship: 47,514 lbs. Going forward we are proud to say that 2024 marks Skyline’s 20th anniversary—and we’re starting it off with six new offerings for January. Read on.
What can one say about our first item for the new year? It stands alone in its informal elegance. This 112-year-old-face is from the hand of noteworthy type designer Robert Wiebking, at his Advance Type Foundry (later absorbed into Barnhart Bros & Spindler, and ultimately American Type Founders). It was later picked up by the Ludlow Typograph Co., whose matrices we used for this casting. In addition to the standard 72 caps, lowercase, points, and figures, the font includes a dizzying array of specials: 2 auxiliary characters, 3 ornamental flourishes, 10 alternate letterforms, 11 ligatures, and 12 logotypes, for a total of 110 characters. Here is Artcraft in 36 point.
Another high point of the year was finding long-sought matrices for the Hebrew language in 24 and 30 to complement our 12 point, the only size we’ve offered to date. (A third set of mats, 36 point, was also acquired but unfortunately is incomplete.) So for January we are pleased to present Hebrew Condensed 24pt. The 30 point standard Hebrew is slated for release next month. Shalom!
Our Bookman series continues to fill out as promised, with the addition this month of Bookman Old Style and Italic in 18 point.
To our new line of less-than-type-high material, we add Quads & Spacing in 48 point.
Lastly, for members of the Amalgamated Printers Association, here’s a set of the club logos in both 36 and 72 point: Collection No. 69.
That’s enough for now! May the new year bring eudemonia, and plenty of inspiration at the press.