This entry is for two similar reworkings of a compressed style
from a typeface series that originated at Leipzig punchcutting
company Wagner & Schmidt, both distinguished by straight diagonals
in ‘kvwxy AKMNVWXY 4’. For the original with curved diagonals, see
Inserat-Grotesk schmal / Aurora-Grotesk
VIII. For a related, less condensed style, see
Anzeigen-Grotesk / Neue Aurora IX.
1. Inserat-Grotesk (a.k.a. Grotesque
réclame) by Haas is shown in specimens from
ca. 1965 and
ca. 1968. Curved leg in ‘R’, deeper cuts in diagonal joins
(‘AMN’ etc.) than in Neue Aurora VIII. Jaspert shows
this face as Narrow Grotesque with an implausible
“Haas c. 1865” date. Note that
Haas’s version of the original with curved diagonals was also named
Inserat-Grotesk (schmal).
2. Neue Aurora VIII schmalhalbfett by Weber was first cast in
1964 [Schriftenkartei 1958–1971] (but shown
already in 1963). Diagonal leg in ‘R’. Weber didn’t always use the
“Neue” suffix, referring to the reworking as Aurora
Condensed [1963
specimen] or Aurora VIII schmal [Mengel 1966].
Carried by Johannes
Wagner as Edel-Grotesk engschmalfett, first cast
in 1927 [Schriftenkartei 1958–1971] (the date must
refer to the original version with curved forms).
Phototype adaptations of Weber’s version are shown as Neue
Aurora-Grotesk schmalhalbfett More…
This entry is for two similar reworkings of a compressed style from a typeface series that originated at Leipzig punchcutting company Wagner & Schmidt, both distinguished by straight diagonals in ‘kvwxy AKMNVWXY 4’. For the original with curved diagonals, see Inserat-Grotesk schmal / Aurora-Grotesk VIII. For a related, less condensed style, see Anzeigen-Grotesk / Neue Aurora IX.
1. Inserat-Grotesk (a.k.a. Grotesque réclame) by Haas is shown in specimens from ca. 1965 and ca. 1968. Curved leg in ‘R’, deeper cuts in diagonal joins (‘AMN’ etc.) than in Neue Aurora VIII. Jaspert shows this face as Narrow Grotesque with an implausible “Haas c. 1865” date. Note that Haas’s version of the original with curved diagonals was also named Inserat-Grotesk (schmal).
2. Neue Aurora VIII schmalhalbfett by Weber was first cast in 1964 [Schriftenkartei 1958–1971] (but shown already in 1963). Diagonal leg in ‘R’. Weber didn’t always use the “Neue” suffix, referring to the reworking as Aurora Condensed [1963 specimen] or Aurora VIII schmal [Mengel 1966]. Carried by Johannes Wagner as Edel-Grotesk engschmalfett, first cast in 1927 [Schriftenkartei 1958–1971] (the date must refer to the original version with curved forms).
Phototype adaptations of Weber’s version are shown as Neue Aurora-Grotesk schmalhalbfett [Berthold 1974] and Aurora Neu schmalhalbfett [Typeshop c.1977]. PLINC had Grotesk Inserata (‘R’ w/ curved leg and lower waist, before 1965), Aurora Bold Cond (‘R’ w/ curved leg), and Aurora Condensed (‘R’ w/ diagonal leg, ‘A’ w/ smaller counter) [PLINC One Liner 1971]. Another photo adaptation blurs the distinction between the original with curved diagonals and the revision by including both forms. [Phil’s Photo, 1981]
OPTI Aurora Condensed (Castcraft, 1990–1991) is a digitization with the ‘R’ of the Haas version. It includes the curved forms of the original as alternates.