Hand-printed books of poetry,
Plus tips and supplies for fellow letterpress printers.

Monotype matrices for casting letterpress type

Supertype


Supertype is the best source of card founts – which are ideal for the beginner or to top-up existing founts. See other type founders if you're looking for larger quantities or composition matter.

The outfit is run by the chap who previously owned the large commercial ‘Startype’ Foundry, a principal supplier to firms in the North of England in days gone by. His expertise is now pretty much unique. He provides exactly the service small printers require; the quality is first rate, the service is excellent and the prices are extremely modest (often beating second hand items on eBay).

We've recently been asked to remove the contact details from our site (understandably, he's become tired of the sort of silly requests that internet fame can bring you) but contact us and we can put you in touch.


Available Type Faces

Supertype ‘standard’ type faces are listed below. Lots of other faces and sizes are available to special order, at an additional charge.

Ashley Script Type Face
Ashley Script 574
14, 18, 24, 30 and 36 pt

Bembo Roman Type Face
Bembo Roman 270
8, 10 and 12 pt

Bembo Italic Type Face
Bembo Italic 270-I
8, 10 and 12 pt

Dorchester Script Type Face
Dorchester Script 436
14, 18, 24 and 36 pt

Garamond Roman Type Face
Garamond Roman 156
8, 10, 12, 14 and 18 pt

Garamond Italic Type Face
Garamond Italic 156-I
8, 10, 12, 14 and 18 pt

Gill Sans Medium Italic Type Face
Gill Medium 262
6, 8, 10, 12, 14, 18, 24, 30 and 36 pt

Gill Sans Medium Italic Type Face
Gill Medium Italic 262-I
6, 8, 10, 12, 14, 18, 24, 30 and 36 pt

Gill Bold Type Face
Gill Bold 275
6, 8, 10, 12, 14, 18, 24, 30 and 36 pt

Gill Bold Italic Type Face
Gill Bold Italic 275-I
6, 8, 10, 12, 14, 18, 24, 30 and 36 pt

Gill Bold Condensed Type Face
Gill Bold Condensed 343
8, 10, 12, 14, 18, and 24 pt

Gill Bold Titling Type Face
Gill Bold Titling 317
36 and 48 pt

Heavy Script Type Face
Heavy Script 322
14, 18, 24, 30 and 36 pt

Imprint Shadow Type Face
Imprint Shadow 190
14, 18, 24, 30 and 36 pt

Imprint Shadow Type Face
Imprint Shadow Italic 190-I
14, 18, 24, 30 and 36 pt

Light English Text Type Face
Light English Text 456
8, 10, 12, 14, 18, 24, 30 and 36 pt

Plantin Roman Type Face
Plantin Roman 110
8, 10, 12, 14 and 18 pt

Plantin Italic Type Face
Plantin Italic 110-I
8, 10, 12, 14, 18 and 24 pt

Plate Gothic (Spartan) Type Face
Plate Gothic (Spartan) 140
6 pt and 12 pt bodies, sizes 1, 2, 3 or 4*

Rockwell Medium Type Face
Rockwell Medium 371
8, 10, 12, 14, 18 and 24 pt

Temple Script Type Face
Temple Script 455
12, 14 and 24 pt

Times Roman Type Face
Times Roman 327
6, 8, 10, 12, 14, 18, 24, 30 and 36 pt

Times Italic Type Face
Times Italic 327-I
6, 8, 10, 12, 14, 18 and 24 pt

Times Bold Type Face
Times Bold 334
6, 8, 10, 12, 14, 18, 24, 30 and 36 pt

Univers Medium Type Face
Univers Medium 689
7 cast on an 8pt body, 9/10pt, 11/12pt, 14/14pt, 18/18pt & 22/24pt**

Univers Medium Italic Type Face
Univers Medium Italic 689-I
7 cast on an 8pt body, 9/10pt, 11/12pt, 14/14pt, 18/18pt & 22/24pt**

Univers Medium Condensed Type Face
Univers Medium Condensed 690
7 cast on an 8pt body, 9/10pt, 11/12pt, 14/14pt, 18/18pt & 22/24pt**

Univers Medium Expanded Type Face
Univers Medium Expanded 688
8 cast on an 8pt body, 9/10pt, 11/12pt, 18/18pt & 22/24pt**

Univers Bold Type Face
Univers Bold 693
7 cast on an 8pt body, 9/10pt, 11/12pt, 14/14pt, 18/18pt & 22/24pt**

Univers Bold Condensed Type Face
Univers Bold Condensed 694
7 cast on an 8pt body, 9/10pt, 11/12pt, 14/14pt, 18/18pt & 22/24pt**



Also a range of other letterpress materials.

* Almost uniquely for Monotype faces, Plate Gothic (Spartan) is designed to align at the foot so there are four sizes (Number 1, 2, 3 and 4) on either either 6 pt or 12 pt bodies.

** Univers is a type-face from France where they use a different set of measures for type (the Didot system). To cast these faces to work within our Anglo-American point system it sometimes has to be cast on a slightly larger body.


Quantities in a Card Fount

The quantity of type in a card fount is traditionally described by the number of As, with the other letters in relative proportions. The number of letters in Supertype small ‘card’ founts are:

  3A 4A 5A 6A 8A 13A 40A
E 4 5 6 8 10 15 48
A I N O R S T 3 4 5 6 8 13 40
C D H L M U 2 3 4 4 6 7 28
B F G P W Y 2 2 3 3 4 5 17
J K V 2 2 2 2 3 4 12
Q X Z 1 1 1 1 2 2 6

Other manufacturers proportions vary slightly.





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