The Big Jump by Leigh Brackett, Ace
The Big Jump is a science fiction novel by Leigh Brackett (1915–1978), the “Queen of Space Opera”. Originally published in the February 1953 issue of Space Stories, it first appeared in book form in Ace Double D-103 from 1955. Shown here is the 1976 paperback edition.
ITC Busorama as designed by Tom Carnase with Herb Lubalin was released by ITC in 1970 and became a staple in the following decade. Busorama Prisma is a multiline variant that is less well known. In fact, this book cover is the first time it appears on Fonts In Use. Busorama Prisma was shown in 1973 by Photo-Lettering, the company that produced many of ITC’s fonts. Unlike the plain release, it came with a lowercase. I’m not aware of a digitization.
Busorama Prisma as shown in Photo-Lettering Number Two (Alphabet Directions #21) from 1973
6 Comments on “The Big Jump by Leigh Brackett, Ace”
What a strange addition considering the original never had any. And attempting to frankenstein this lowercase into the original Busorama reveals why.
Although it looks a bit off and unexpected, I do like Busorama Prisma and this lightweight lowercase interpretation that you did, Quinn. The lowercase actually reminds me of Benguiat Prismatic (a bit).
Honestly the more I look at it I do kinda think it looks good
The reason why ITC Busorama remained an all-caps design might have to do with the fact that Tom Carnase and Herb Lubalin also released their ITC Ronda, likewise in 1970.
It’s not exactly the same as a hypothetical Busorama with lowercase, but Ronda does include a number of (alternate) glyphs that would be virtually identical, like the single-story a with diagonal stem, the Kabel-like g, or the spurless r. I can imagine that ITC preferred not to cannibalize their one release by another similar one.
BTW, I don’t know if Carnase takes credit for Busorama Prisma. It could also be the case that it was drawn by PLINC staff under the direction of Benguiat.
That makes a lotta sense now. Also maybe Busorama Prisma is the same case as Avant Garde Prisma? Not adopted by ITC? I don’t know.
Correct: Avant Garde Prisma was exclusive to PLINC, and not released by ITC.