Century Roman was designed in 1894 by Linn Boyd
Benton for Theodore Low De Vinne and Century
magazine. In 1900, ATF issued Century Expanded, a
collaboration between Benton and his son, Morris Fuller Benton,
which replaced Century Roman [McGrew 1993].
“Century Bold and Italic were designed
by Morris Benton in 1904 and released by ATF the following year.
Although the name doesn’t include ‘Expanded,’ they are obviously
the companion boldfaces. Century Bold Condensed and
Extended were both designed in 1906 but not released
until 1909 and 1910 respectively; both were also by Benton.
Century Bold Condensed Italic was designed by Sol Hess
for Monotype in 1938. Linotype cut Century Bold Extra
Condensed as a newspaper headline face to fit the limits of
its standard magazines.” [McGrew 1993]
Monotype’s
digital version is derived from smaller metal sizes than the
versions from Adobe/Linotype,
Bitstream,
Elsner+Flake,
and URW. Font
Bureau’s More…
Century Roman was designed in 1894 by Linn Boyd Benton for Theodore Low De Vinne and Century magazine. In 1900, ATF issued Century Expanded, a collaboration between Benton and his son, Morris Fuller Benton, which replaced Century Roman [McGrew 1993].
“Century Bold and Italic were designed by Morris Benton in 1904 and released by ATF the following year. Although the name doesn’t include ‘Expanded,’ they are obviously the companion boldfaces. Century Bold Condensed and Extended were both designed in 1906 but not released until 1909 and 1910 respectively; both were also by Benton. Century Bold Condensed Italic was designed by Sol Hess for Monotype in 1938. Linotype cut Century Bold Extra Condensed as a newspaper headline face to fit the limits of its standard magazines.” [McGrew 1993]
Monotype’s digital version is derived from smaller metal sizes than the versions from Adobe/Linotype, Bitstream, Elsner+Flake, and URW. Font Bureau’s Benton Modern is a more in-depth reinterpretation which incorporates optical sizes.
Century Oldstyle is also named for the magazine and is a very different typeface. (See comparison.)
