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Gill Sans alternatives

Stephen Coles, based on an article from 2007 by Ben Archer, lists the alternatives for Gill Sans (1932, Monotype), a typeface they both find lacking. Here is the list:

• Granby by Stephenson Blake (metal in 1930; revived by Elsner & Flake as Granby EF, and Scangraphic as Granby SB). Closer to Johnston and highly recommended by Coles. Tankard's Wayfarer (2017) was influenced by Granby. Marquis (2021, Apfel Type Foundry) is a contemporary re-interpretation of Granby. Granby was also revived by Pat and Paul Hickson.
• Bliss by Jeremy Tankard (1996): very complete and legible.
• Foundry Sterling by David Quay and Freda Sack (2002, The Foundry). Coles thinks that it is overpowered by its predecessor, Bliss.
• Agenda by Greg Thompson (Font Bureau, 1993-2000).
• P22 London Underground (Richard Kegler, P22, 1997).
• ITC Johnston by David Farey (ITC, 1999-2002). One of the best digital versions of Johnston's Underground.
• English Grotesque (1998, Rian Hughes): an exaggerated interpretation.
• Tschichold by Jan Tschichold (1933, metal) and Thierry Puyfoulhoux (2001, digital).

The list above omits fonts designed after 2007, and also more or less direct digital imitations of Gill Sans such as Bitstream's Humanist 521 and its Cyrillic extension Paratype's Humanist 521. For a major digital update and revival, see Gill Sans Nova (George Ryan, 2015, Monotype). Softmaker's revival is called Chantilly.

EXTERNAL LINKS
Gill Sans alternatives
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INTERNAL LINKS
Choice of fonts ⦿ Type design in the United Kingdom ⦿ Eric Gill and his typefaces ⦿