The eternal letter

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The fiftieth anniversary of Helvetica, the iconic sans serif typeface, was celebrated with unusual enthusiasm in the typography world, culminating in the release of the first film featuring a typeface. However, this milestone is overshadowed by the 2014 celebration of Trajan's Column, which marks the two thousandth anniversary of its renowned inscription, exemplifying the classical Roman capital letter. Despite the rise of sans serif fonts, serif typefaces like Times Roman continue to dominate print and screen communication. This richly illustrated work explores the lasting impact and variations of the classical Roman capital letter through a collection of essays by esteemed experts in typography, lettering, and stone carving. The contributors delve into the nuances of the classical letter, its historical iterations, and the contributions of notable typographers and artisans. Topics include the geometric formulation of the Trajan letters, early typefounders' recalibrations, the rise of Adobe Trajan, and the works of influential figures such as Father Edward M. Catich and Hermann Zapf. The essays also touch on the influence of Trajan in Russia and the legacy of lettercarvers at the John Stevens Shop in Newport, Rhode Island, as well as modern typefaces like Matinia, Senatus, and Penumbra, featuring insights from their designers.