English Grotesque Black

English Grotesque is based on the proportions of an early 20th century signwriter’s sans, emphasising the characteristic idiosyncrasies of type of the period. Sharing a similar Roman circle-and-square construction as Gill Sans or Johnston Railway, it has a wide T and W, a narrow S, and a long-tailed R.

The Roman alphabet did not include a lower-case, and therefore early sans-serifs tended to base theirs on handwritten or cursive models, resulting in more even character widths. English Grotesque, by contrast, carries the more characterful proportions of the capitals through to the lower case.

Available in six weights, with optional alternative versions for the Q, &, £ and J.