TYPE DESIGN INFORMATION PAGE last updated on Mon Apr 15 05:34:48 EDT 2024

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ABOUT

Frank H. Riley

Advertising artist (b. 1894, Joseph, Missouri) influenced by Oswald Cooper and Frederic Goudy, with whom he collaborated. He worked first as a lettering artist in New York and then as a free-lancer in Chicago. Designer at American Typefounders of the condensed and stocky slab serif typeface Contact (1944: see the TS Colonel family by TypeShop for a digital version) and the calligraphic script font Grayda (1939, ATF; +Initials). Grayda was digitized, expanded and modernized by Rebecca Alaccari as Genesis (2007). McGrew writes:

• Contact Bold Condensed and Italic were designed by Frank H. Riley for ATF about 1942, but not released until 1948 because of war-time conditions. They are narrow and vigorous, with a large x-height and short ascenders and descenders, intended for newspaper and general advertising display. Other widths and weights were projected, but there is no evidence that they were completed. Compare John Hancock Condensed, Bold Antique Condensed.
• Grayda is an unusual and striking script designed by Frank H. Riley and introduced in 1939 by ATF. Lowercase letters are weighted at top and bottom. giving a strong horizontal emphasis; they are close fitting but not connected. Two sets of capital letters are available, designated Narrow and Swash. The IS-point size is cast on a 24-point body, the smallest size for which angle-body molds are used.

Klingspor link.

EXTERNAL LINKS
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INTERNAL LINKS
Frank H. Riley
Type designers ⦿ Type designers ⦿ Type scene in Missouri ⦿ Type scene in Illinois ⦿ Type scene in New York ⦿ Ornamental caps typefaces ⦿ Frederic William Goudy ⦿