Gaelic Typefaces: History and Classification

Michael Everson

Version 1.5, 2000-06-19

Edward W. Lynam (1924) and Dermot McGuinne (1992) have published the two most definitive works on Irish typefaces to date. Both described the most important typefaces produced during the heyday of printing in the Gaelic script. McGuinne identifies 11 major designs, which he names after their foundries or patrons, as indicated in the chapter headings of his book. Because a great many more than 11 typefaces are discussed in those chapters, I became interested in preparing a list which would provide information on each individual typeface. In this contribution I endeavour to classify Irish typefaces according to principles of their design. I also present a table of all the Gaelic typefaces known to me, presenting information on date, designer, etc. I have also included Anglo-Saxon typefaces, intimitely related to Irish typefaces, as well as a large number of “Celtic Uncial” typefaces -- few of which, at present, support Celtic languages.

Both Lynam and McGuinne were interested in metal types, and so neither discussed modern digital typefaces. Surprisingly, however, neither discussed in detail the typewriter faces which existed for Irish, though Lynam does mention them in passing. Research on the origin dates and designers of the Gaelic typewriter faces has yet to be completed.

Between 1567 and 1964, some 57 Gaelic or Celtic typefaces were produced, as shown in the list below. At present it appears that no typeface development occurred between 1964 and 1988. If this is the case, those 24 years represent the longest hiatus known in Gaelic type design since 1800.

Since 1988, at least 50 more typefaces have been designed. We live in a time of real renaissance. However, because the tradition of Gaelic typography has been interrupted, many new designers are unfamiliar with the true insular letterforms which are essential, in Ireland at least, for a typeface to be considered authentic. Designers may “modernize” their designs to contain Carolingian g instead of the s-shaped g, and t with its ascender piercing the crossbar, on the grounds that these are somehow “easier” for the modern reader. Personally I think they have simply had their tastes dulled by overexposure to the successful and ubiquitous American Uncial. In any case, these Pseudo-Gaelic letterforms are not suitable for Irish Gaelic, and at the very least one must hope that designers will choose to provide Gaelic alternates in their typefaces, in addition to the accented letters required for the Celtic languages.

Considering the reverence given by many designers to the insular manuscript hand and the artistic traditions it belonged to, ensuring that their typefaces can be used to write Celtic languages should be one of their prime considerations.

In the table below, each typeface is described according to a number of categories.

Year indicates the earliest and latest known use of the type (“latest known use” is really more relevant for the metal types than it is for digital typefaces).
Name indicates the generally-accepted name of the typeface; where a face has been known by other names, these are given in parentheses. Typefaces whose names are given in italics are typefaces which I have never myself seen.
Designer gives the name of the person who cut (or digitally designed) the typeface; the name of the person who provided a manuscript model or other inspiration is given in parentheses, as is the italicized name of a typeface which was used as the basis for the design.
Place indicates the city or country in which a typeface was prepared.
Digitized gives the name of a revived typeface and the year it was digitized, or indicates the year a purely digital typeface was designed.
Code indicates the level of support for Celtic languages which is provided.
- M = Minimum Gaelic character set (all traditional 18 Irish letters but no others), digits, punctuation.
- D = Defective, does not have the accented vowels or dotted consonants required for Irish Gaelic.
- S = Standard: identical to or a superset of ISO/IEC 8859-14 (Latin 8). The scope of that standard shows that it supports at least the following languages: Albanian, Basque, Breton, Catalan, Cornish, Danish, Dutch, English, French (with restrictions), Frisian, Galician, German, Greenlandic, Irish Gaelic (old and new orthographies), Italian, Latin, Luxemburgish, Manx Gaelic, Norwegian, Portuguese, Rhaeto-Romanic, Scottish Gaelic, Spanish, Swedish, and Welsh.
- j = has j k q v w x y z.
- e = has the euro sign.
- & = has both the Tironian et sign and the ampersand.
- + = has traditional Irish manuscript ligatures.

Classification indicates the assigned typology. It is not always easy to classify Gaelic typefaces. Often a mix of terminology is required. I welcome criticism and elaboration of the classifications below.

First order classification

Gaelic fonts have Insular letterforms: delta-form d; s-form g; dotless i; round t with no ascender above the crossbar.
Pseudo-Gaelic fonts may be identical to Gaelic ones in other respects, but are inauthentic in that they have Carolingian letterforms: a bowled g and/or either a round t with its ascender piercing the crossbar or a rectilinear T. May have a tall f or a two-stroke vertical b and d. May have a dotted i (this is a cardinal sin).
Roman fonts use unmodified Roman forms, but have dots above and acute accents required for Irish Gaelic. If dotted i is used, its dot and the dot of lenition must be harmonized with regard to height.
Hybrid fonts use both Roman letterforms and Gaelic letterforms. The earliest faces mix special Gaelic glyphs with existing Roman ones. A few faces give Roman capital letters with Gaelic small letters; even if the strokes of the capital letters are “gaelicized”, if they are not strictly speaking Gaelic, Hybrid is used to classify the face.

Second order classification

Manuscript fonts are generally spiky or angular; often irregular.
Transitional fonts are designs intermediate between faces that reproduce calligraphic manuscript hands and rectified, regularized typographical faces.
Modern fonts are regularized typographically.

Third order classification

Angular fonts have the inverted-v type a, though sometimes this contrasts with round-humped h, m, n.
Round fonts have the script type a.
Uncial fonts give a strong suggestion of pen-based strokes. Sometimes it is hard to tell the difference between Manuscript and Uncial but the latter is a “pre-Gaelic” class (there are non-Insular Uncials)
Monowidth fonts are typewriter typefaces.
Sans-serif fonts have no serifs.
Grotesque fonts have no serifs.

References:

Lynam, E. W. 1969 (1924). The Irish character in print, 1571-1923. Introduction by Alf MacLochlainn. New York: Barnes & Noble.
McGuinne, Dermot. 1992. Irish type design: a history of printing types in the Irish character. Blackrock: Irish Academic Press. ISBN 0-7165-2463-5

Bliain
Year Ainm
Name Dearthóir
Designer Áit
Place Digitithe
Digitized Cód
Code Aicmiú
Classification

1567-1574 Anglo-Saxon John Day (Matthew Parker) England Dj Hybrid Modern

1571-1658 Queen Elizabeth John Kearney (Roman glyphs Pierre Haultin) Dublin? Cois Life draft Mj+ Hybrid Modern

1611-1728 Louvain A Thomas Strong? (Bonaventure O’Hussey) Louvain Lóbháin draft M+ Gaelic Manuscript

1641-1662 Louvain B unknown (Anthony Haly) Louvain M+ Gaelic Manuscript

c. 1667 Saxon De Walpergus? (Franciscus Junius) England? Junius 1996 D Hybrid

1675-1937 Rome John the Teuton? Rome M+ Gaelic Manuscript Angular

1680-1887 Moxon Joseph Moxon London M+ Gaelic Manuscript Angular

1732-1751 Paris Loyson foundry (Conor O’Begly) Paris Páras draft M+ Gaelic Manuscript Angular

1787-1815 Parker (Brooke, Bonham) Stephen Parker (Muiris O’Gorman) Dublin M Gaelic Manuscript Angular

1799-1887 Fry/Moxon (Graisberry) Edmund Fry London M+ Gaelic Manuscript Angular

1804-1805 Marcel J. J. Marcel (partly recut Rome; Paris influence) Paris M+ ?? Gaelic Manuscript Angular

1808-1821 Barlow John Barlow Dublin M+ Hybrid Early Transitional

1808-1845 Neilson William Neilson Dublin D Roman

1815-1844 Christie James Christie Dublin M+ Gaelic Early Transitional Angular

1815-1895 Early Figgins (Hardiman) Vincent Figgins (Valancey 1773) London M+ Gaelic Late Transitional Angular

1818-1931 Watts Richard Watts London Acaill 1997, Seanchló 1998 M+ Gaelic Early Transitional Angular

1819-1869 Fry A (Gothic capitals) Edmund Fry Cambridge? M+ Gaelic Transitional Angular

1835-1961 Petrie A (Irish Archaeological Society 1, 3) George Petrie Dublin M Gaelic Uncial Round

1836-1869 Fry B (Gaelic capitals) Edmund Fry Cambridge? M+ Transitional

1836-1927 Legrand Marcellin Legrand (Francisque Michel) Paris M Hybrid

1842 Furlong John Mullany Dublin M+ Roman Aspirated

1845-1910 Vienna A (Altirisch A, Altkeltisch) Alois Auer? (Rome) Vienna M+ Manuscript

1845-1910 Vienna B (Altirisch B, Neukeltisch) Alois Auer? (Petrie A) Vienna M+ Gaelic Uncial Round

1850-1957 Petrie B (Irish Archaeological Society 2) George Petrie Dublin Mj Gaelic Uncial Round

1856-1887 Petrie C (Thom) Alexander Thom (George Petrie) Dublin M Gaelic Modern Round

1857-1900 Newman (Keating Society) George Petrie Dublin Gaeilge 1991, Bunchló 1996 M Gaelic Modern Angular

1861- Ballhorn (Leipzig) F. Ballhorn (Watts) Leipzig M Gaelic Early Transitional Angular

1874-1902 Reed Charles Reed (Newman) Dublin M Modern Angular

1877 Bourke (Romano-Keltic) Ulick J. Bourke (or James Marr?) London M Roman

1881-1900 Irish Echo unknown (Watts) Boston M Gaelic Early Transitional Angular

1891 Hogan A. Thom (Edmund Hogan) Dublin Mj Roman

1897-1904 Later Figgins Vincent Figgins? (Pádruig Ó Briain; Newman) London M Gaelic Modern Angular

1904- Later Figgins Bold (Stevens Celtic) R. H. Stevens London M Gaelic Modern Angular

c. 1905 Underwood unknown New York? Darmhagh Underwood 1999, Darmhagh draft Mj Gaelic Modern Angular Monowidth

1906-1922 Monotype Series 24 A unknown (recast Michael O’Rahilly 1913; Later Figgins) ? Duibhlinn 1993 M Gaelic Modern Angular

c. 1906? Monotype Series 85 unknown (Later Figgins bold) ? M Gaelic Modern Angular

c. 1910? Hammond unknown ? Mj Modern Angular Monowidth

c. 1910? Royal unknown Hartford? Doire 1993, Doire Royal 1999 Mj Gaelic Modern Angular Monowidth

1913 Intertype unknown (Later Figgins) ? M Modern Angular

1913 Intertype Bold unknown (Later Figgins) ? M Gaelic Modern Angular

1913 Monotype Series 117 Cahill’s foundry (Michael O’Rahilly), Monotype Series 81 ? Cluain draft? Mj Gaelic Modern Grotesque

1915? O’Rahilly Display Michael O’Rahilly ? Mj led to Monotype Series 117, never cut

1916 American Type Founders (ATF) unknown (Later Figgins) New Jersey M Gaelic Modern Angular

1916 Linotype unknown (Later Figgins) ? M Gaelic Modern Angular

1921-1953? Hammerschrift (Hammer Unziale) A. Schuricht (Victor Hammer) Offenbach Dj Modern Pseudo-Gaelic Uncial

1925 (Ó Searcaigh) unknown (Séamus Ó Searcaigh? Anglo-Saxon face?) Germany M Modern Round

1932? 1945? American Uncial Victor Hammer? Offenbach Gaeilge 2 1993 Dj Modern Pseudo-Gaelic Uncial

1932 Baoithín Colm Ó Lochlainn, Victor Hammer (Hammerschrift) Offenbach Loch Garman 1999 Mj Modern Gaelic Uncial

1933-1988 Colum Cille (Monotype Series 121) Colm Ó Lochlainn, Karl Uhlemann Dublin c. 1989 Mj& Modern Round

1933 Pindar Victor Hammer Offenbach Dj Modern Pseudo-Gaelic Uncial

1938 Libra Uncial Sjoerd Hendrik de Roos Amsterdam Dj Modern Pseudo-Gaelic Uncial

1945-1948 Czech Uncial Oldrich Menhart Czechoslovakia Dj Modern Pseudo-Gaelic Uncial

c. 1950 Tower (Sears?) unknown ? Teamhair 1997, Teamhair Tower 1999 Mj Gaelic Modern Round Monowidth

1953 Biggs Michael Biggs Dublin Doolish draft D Modern Gaelic Uncial

1953 Solemnis Günther Gerhard Lange Berlin Dj Modern Pseudo-Gaelic Hybrid Uncial

1964 Nua-Rómhánach Liam Miller (William Britton) ? Mj?? Hybrid

1988 Kells Casady & Greene foundry USA 1988 Dj Modern Round

1988 Meath Casady & Greene foundry USA 1988 Dj Modern Round

1989 Gaillimh Michael Everson Portland 1989 bitmap Mj Gaelic Modern Angular

1991 Gaeilge Christopher Young (Newman) Pittsburgh 1991 Mj Gaelic Angular

1993 Ceanannas Michael Everson (George Bain) Dublin 1993 Se& Gaelic Modern Gaelic Uncial

1993 Doire Michael Everson (Royal) Dublin 1993 Se& Gaelic Modern Angular Monowidth

1993 Duibhlinn Michael Everson (Monotype Series 24) Dublin 1993 Se& Gaelic Modern Angular

1993 Durrow David F. Nalle Austin 1993 Dj Modern Pseudo-Gaelic Uncial

1993 Gaeilge 2 Pádraig McCarthy (American Uncial) Dublin 1993 ? Gaelic Modern Uncial

1993 Tuamach Colum Twomey 1993 S Gaelic Modern Angular

1994 Bainín Michael White Trim 1994 ? Gaelic Modern Uncial

1994 Glanchló Vincent Morley (Petrie A, Colum Cille) Dublin 1994 Mje& Modern Round

1995 Beowulf-1 Peter Baker (Beowulf MS scribe 1) Virginia 1996 Dj Pseudo-Gaelic Manuscript

1995 Éirinn Norbert Reiners (Petrie A) Aachen 1995 Mj+ Modern Round

1995 Everson Mono Gaelic Michael Everson Dublin 1995 Se& Hybrid Sans Serif Monowidth

c. 1995 Kells Round P22 foundry (Book of Kells?) Buffalo c. 1995 Dj?? Manuscript

c. 1995 Kells Square (Lindisfarne MS) P22 foundry Buffalo c. 1995 Dj?? Manuscript

1995 Ossian Norbert Reiners Aachen 1995 Modern Round

1996 Bunchló Vincent Morley (Newman) Dublin 1996 Mje& Modern Angular

1996 Junius Peter Baker (Saxon) Virginia 1996 Dj Modern Hybrid

1996 Úrchló Vincent Morley Dublin 1996 Mje& Modern Hybrid Sans Serif

1997 Acaill Michael Everson (Watts) Dublin 1997 Se&+ Gaelic Early Transitional Angular

1997 Corcaigh Michael Everson (Conradh na Gaeilge) Dublin 1997 Se& Gaelic Modern Angular

1997 Fíorchló Vincent Morley (Colum Cille) Dublin 1997 Mje& Gaelic Hybrid Uncial

1997 Oireachtas Con Kennedy Dublin 1997 Dj Pseudo-Gaelic Uncial

1997 Stonecross David F. Nalle Austin 1997 Dj Pseudo-Gaelic Uncial

1997 Teamhair Michael Everson (Tower) Dublin 1997 Se& Gaelic Modern Round Monowidth

1997 Uachtarán Con Kennedy Dublin 1997 Dj Modern Round

1998 Aon Cari Cari Buziak (Lindisfarne MS) Calgary 1998 Dj Modern Pseudo-Gaelic Uncial

1998 Cianán Feòrag NicBhrìde (Seán Ó Cianáin) Edinburgh 1998 Se& Modern Round

1998 Seanchló Vincent Morley (Watts) Dublin 1998 Mje& Modern Transitional

1998 Slaine James Shields Dublin 1998 Dj Modern Angular

1998 Vespasian Feòrag NicBhrìde Edinburgh 1998 Dj Modern Round

1999 Darmhagh Underwood Michael Everson (Underwood) Dublin 1999 Se& Gaelic Modern Angular Monowidth

1999 Doire Royal Michael Everson (Royal) Dublin 1999 Se& Gaelic Modern Angular Monowidth

1999 Léarchló Vincent Morley (Libra) Dublin 1999 Mje& Modern Uncial

1999 Loch Garman Michael Everson (Baoithín) Dublin 1999 Se& Gaelic Modern Uncial

1999 Morgow David F. Nalle Austin 1999 Dj Modern Pseudo-Gaelic Uncial

1999 Teamhair Tower Michael Everson (Tower) Dublin 1999 Se& Gaelic Modern Round Monowidth

draft Cluain Michael Everson Dublin draft Se& Gaelic Modern Grotesque

draft Cois Life Michael Everson (Queen Elizabeth) Dublin draft Se&+ Hybrid

draft Darmhagh Michael Everson (Underwood) Dublin draft Se& Gaelic Modern Angular Monowidth

draft Doolish Michael Everson (Biggs) Dublin draft Se& Gaelic Modern Round

draft Lóbháin Michael Everson (Louvain) Dublin draft Se&+ Gaelic Manuscript

draft Páras Michael Everson (Paris) Dublin draft Se&+ Gaelic Manuscript

199? Alba Text David F. Nalle Austin ? Angular Hybrid Uncial

199? Dahaut David F. Nalle Austin ? Uncial

199? Glendower David F. Nalle Austin ? Uncial

199? Lindisfarne David F. Nalle Austin ? Manuscript

199? Sualtim David F. Nalle Austin ? Pseudo-Gaelic Uncial

199? Teyrnon David F. Nalle Austin ? Pseudo-Gaelic Hybrid Uncial

Pronunciation of Gaelic typeface names

Acaill	['akəlʲ]
Aon Cari	['i:n 'kari]
Bainín	['banʲi:nʲ]
Bunchló	['bunxlo:]
Baoithín	['bi:hʲi:n]
Ceanannas	['kʲanənəs]
Cianán	['kʲiəna:n]
Cluain	[kluənʲ]
Cois Life	[kosʲ 'lʲifʲə]
Colum Cille	['koləm kʲilʲə]
Corcaigh	['korki:]
Darmhagh	['daru:]
Doire	['dorʲə]
Duibhlinn	['difʲlʲinʲ]
Éirinn	['e:rʲinʲ]
Fíorchló	['fʲi:rxlo:]
Gaeilge	['ge:lʲgʲə]
Gaillimh	['galʲəvʲ]
Glanchló	['glanxlo:]
Lóbháin	['lo:va:nʲ]
Loch Garman	[lox 'garəmən]
Nua-Romhánach	[nuə ro'va:nəx]
Oireachtas	['orʲəxtəs]
Ó Searcaigh	[o: 'sʲarki:]
Páras	['pa:rəs
Seanchló	['sʲanxlo:]
Sláine	['sla:nʲə]
Teamhair	[tʲaurʲ]
Tuamach	['tuəməx]
Uachtarán	['uəxtəra:n]
Úrchló	['u:rxlo:]

HTML Michael Everson, Evertype, Cnoc na Sceiche, Leac an Anfa, Cathair na Mart, Co. Mhaigh Eo, Éire, 2002-09-17