Looking for the typeface used on the cover of Catch-22
February 27, 2017 1:58 PM Subscribe
Or something close to it. Specifically, the version pictured here, used in the title of the book: clickbait.
Bonus if it's a font available on Google Docs.
Thank you in advance.
That lettering was done by hand, by the great designer Paul Bacon.
posted by Jairus at 2:28 PM on February 27, 2017 [12 favorites]
posted by Jairus at 2:28 PM on February 27, 2017 [12 favorites]
If you type "CATCH-22" into the "Your Text" box here, and scroll down, you'll see that Steelfish Bold is a pretty darn close match. Found via FontSquirrel. The only problem is that Steelfish was not created until 2001, "inspired by early to mid-20th Century newspaper headlines." A good possibility for the 1950s antecedent would be Sign Gothic Condensed Bold.
There are lots of variations of Linotype's Gothic but many of them such as the Alternative No. 2 cited above, don't have the same kind of curves in the 2's.
The lettering was certainly adjusted and shadowed by hand by Bacon, but could well have started out with a standard font.
posted by beagle at 2:36 PM on February 27, 2017 [2 favorites]
There are lots of variations of Linotype's Gothic but many of them such as the Alternative No. 2 cited above, don't have the same kind of curves in the 2's.
The lettering was certainly adjusted and shadowed by hand by Bacon, but could well have started out with a standard font.
posted by beagle at 2:36 PM on February 27, 2017 [2 favorites]
The closest free font is probably League Gothic. The 2 is definitely different, however
posted by O9scar at 4:16 PM on February 27, 2017
posted by O9scar at 4:16 PM on February 27, 2017
The nearest typeface I can find is called Ludlow 6 E C Extra Condensed. Silvertone Woodtype is a modern recreation of it.
Oswald is a Google free font that's similar in spirit.
posted by adamrice at 6:16 AM on February 28, 2017
Oswald is a Google free font that's similar in spirit.
posted by adamrice at 6:16 AM on February 28, 2017
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posted by mushhushshu at 2:27 PM on February 27, 2017