This entry is for two similar reworkings of the bold condensed
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 fett / Aurora-Grotesk IX. For a related
compressed style, see
Haas Inserat-Grotesk / Neue Aurora VIII.
1. Fette Anzeigen-Grotesk aka Grotesque
annonce grasse by Haas is
shown in the fifth addendum to Seemann as “in-house design with
revised letterforms” cut in 1932. ‘R’ leg is vertical, ‘t’ top is
horizontal.
2. Neue Aurora IX schmalfett by Weber was
first cast in 1964. [DIN index card (but already shown in 1963)]
‘R’ leg is diagonal, ‘t’ top is angled. Apertures are a tad smaller
than in the Haas version. Weber didn’t always use the “Neue”
suffix, referring to the reworking as Aurora Bold
Condensed [1963
specimen] or Aurora IX halbbreit. [Mengel
1966]
Phototype adaptations of both versions are shown in PLINC’s
One
Line (1971, Anzeigen Grotesque 9 and
Aurora Bold More…
This entry is for two similar reworkings of the bold condensed 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 fett / Aurora-Grotesk IX. For a related compressed style, see Haas Inserat-Grotesk / Neue Aurora VIII.
1. Fette Anzeigen-Grotesk aka Grotesque annonce grasse by Haas is shown in the fifth addendum to Seemann as “in-house design with revised letterforms” cut in 1932. ‘R’ leg is vertical, ‘t’ top is horizontal.
2. Neue Aurora IX schmalfett by Weber was first cast in 1964. [DIN index card (but already shown in 1963)] ‘R’ leg is diagonal, ‘t’ top is angled. Apertures are a tad smaller than in the Haas version. Weber didn’t always use the “Neue” suffix, referring to the reworking as Aurora Bold Condensed [1963 specimen] or Aurora IX halbbreit. [Mengel 1966]
Phototype adaptations of both versions are shown in PLINC’s One Line (1971, Anzeigen Grotesque 9 and Aurora Bold Cond), Berthold’s E1 (1974, Anzeigen-Grotesk and Neue Aurora-Grotesk schmalfett) and a c. 1970s Typeshop catalog (Anzeigen-Grotesk and Aurora Neu schmalfett). PLINC additionally had Aurora Graphic (Cond), which adds 4 more weights (7, 8, 9, 10) to the Weber version.
Digital versions as Anzeigen Grotesk by URW (2 variants distinguished by depth of cuts in diagonal joints; used for sample) and Linotype, Aura by Compugraphic (1990) [Identifont], and OPTI Aurora Bold Condensed (Castcraft, 1990–1991); all with the ‘R’ and ‘t’ of Anzeigen-Grotesk.
