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Bulmer (typeface)
Encyclopedia
Bulmer is the name of transitional serif typeface originally designed by William Martin (1757–1830) in 1792 for the Shakespeare Press. The types were used for printing the Boydell
Shakespeare
folio edition.
William Martin's brother John Martin had worked as John Baskerville's
foreman. William Martin also worked under John Baskerville, and his types show Baskerville's influence. They share a vertical stress and a moderate increase of stroke contrast, and more finely cut serifs. Martin's type are more vertical. D. B. Updike described Martin's types as "delicate and spirited, thoroughly English."
Bulmer's distinguishing characters are an uppercase R with a curved tail. Lowercase g has a small bowl and a curved ear; a heavier stroke weight on the lower right side of the bowl contributes to a sense of that character leaning backwards. Uppercase italic characters J, K, N, T and Y are reminiscent of Baskerville's, showing the influence of his teacher. Originally drawn with ranging (old style) figues, the current Monotype revival features ranging and lining figures.
is based on the 1928 revival by Morris Fuller Benton
.
John Boydell
John Boydell was an 18th-century British publisher noted for his reproductions of engravings. He helped alter the trade imbalance between Britain and France in engravings and initiated a British tradition in the art form...
Shakespeare
Boydell Shakespeare Gallery
The Boydell Shakespeare Gallery in London, England, was the first stage of a three-part project initiated in November 1786 by engraver and publisher John Boydell in an effort to foster a school of British history painting...
folio edition.
William Martin's brother John Martin had worked as John Baskerville's
John Baskerville
John Baskerville was an English businessman, in areas including japanning and papier-mâché, but he is best remembered as a printer and typographer.-Life:...
foreman. William Martin also worked under John Baskerville, and his types show Baskerville's influence. They share a vertical stress and a moderate increase of stroke contrast, and more finely cut serifs. Martin's type are more vertical. D. B. Updike described Martin's types as "delicate and spirited, thoroughly English."
Bulmer's distinguishing characters are an uppercase R with a curved tail. Lowercase g has a small bowl and a curved ear; a heavier stroke weight on the lower right side of the bowl contributes to a sense of that character leaning backwards. Uppercase italic characters J, K, N, T and Y are reminiscent of Baskerville's, showing the influence of his teacher. Originally drawn with ranging (old style) figues, the current Monotype revival features ranging and lining figures.
Foundry Type
Foundry type versions of Bulmer were made by the following manufacturers:Digital Versions
A contemporary digital revival (shown at right), supervised by Robin Nicholas at Monotype ImagingMonotype Corporation
Monotype Imaging Holdings is a Delaware corporation based in Woburn, Massachusetts and specializing in typesetting and typeface design as well as text and imaging solutions for use with consumer electronics devices. Monotype Imaging Holdings is the owner of Monotype Imaging Inc., Linotype,...
is based on the 1928 revival by Morris Fuller Benton
Morris Fuller Benton
Morris Fuller Benton was an influential American typeface designer who headed the design department of the American Type Founders , for which he was the chief type designer from 1900 to 1937...
.