British Library
St Pancras station
King’s Cross Station
319—321 Gray’s Inn Road
Road traffic signs
Cent. London T&E Hosp.
Royal Free Hospital
Parsons’ Library
R L Homœopathic Hospital
British Monomarks
Faraday House
Central Saint Martins
Pharmaceutical Soc.
British Museum
Dairy Supply Co.
Smith’s umbrellas
Lavers & Barraud
Underground station
27–29 Long Acre
Street names
The Coliseum
Pedestrian signage
St Martin’s Schools
St Martin’s/Fields
Sainsbury Wing
Further reading
Background
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Exploiting context
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Pharmaceutical Society Great Russell Street / Bloomsbury Square

This example of a v-cut monoline egyptian with even character widths dates from 1860 and until at least 1975 was gilded which must have looked even better. Nevertheless it is a fine form and works well in the space and with the architecture.

Details list – click to switch the current detail

The lettering
Close ups
The date

All stills for Pharmaceutical Society

The lettering

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If this was a typeface the G would be regarded as insufficiently distinct from C but on an inscription with only a few words context provides the key.

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The toughness of the letterforms matches the bulk of the building and contrasts well with the fussiness of the carved Corinthian capitals.

Close ups

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Detail showing the v-section cut.

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Detail showing the v-section cut.

The date

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Above ground floor level the incorporation date is letterspaced as though for a delicate Roman letterform which this is not.

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Above ground floor level the incorporation date is letterspaced as though for a delicate Roman letterform which this is not.