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Scotch Roman

Great discussion on Typophile regarding Scotch Roman. We have two different opinions on the source of Scotch Roman: Linotype gives it to Richard Austin, while DeVinne credits Samuel Nelson Dickinson with modelling the first Scotch in Boston in 1837. Both sources agree that it was first cut by Alexander Wilson and Son in Glasgow. In 1839, Dickinson opened his foundry with the Scotch matrices.

Scotch is a great book and magazine typeface (short ascenders and descenders, good width, strong capitals, bracketed serifs, moderate contrast, calligraphic italics). Scotch typefaces initially come from Scottish foundries, which were popular in the United States in the late 18th century, through the Victorian era and even most of the 20th century among books, magazines, newspapers, and advertisements. It has always been more popular in the USA than elsewhere.

Scan of 6-50pt Scotch Roman from the 1912 ATF book. And of 34-60pt. Summary of some Scotch typefaces:

• Dwiggins' Caledonia.
• Matthew Carter created many Scoth Romans. Witness his FB Miller, Georgia ("Scotch Roman for screen"), Vincent, Big Figgins, Elephant, Caledonia (for Time magazine), and Linotype Monticello (after Binny & Ronaldson's Pica Roman No. 1, done for Princeton University Press).
• Another font in this gene is FB Scotch (1993) by David Berlow (for Newsweek), based on the original Scotch and on Dwiggins' Caledonia.
• Scotch Roman (Linotype), traced back to A.D. Farmer, 1904.
• Scotch Roman by Nick Shinn.
• Schorel (2019). A 54-style Scotch roman by Jeremy Dooley.

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Typography ⦿ Choice of fonts ⦿ Type scene in Massachusetts ⦿ Scotch Roman ⦿