Library of Congress and Bill of Rights detail

I found this beautiful version of the Bill of Rights on the Library of Congress site, which has an amazing collection of images: A Bill of Rights as provided in the Ten Original Amendments to The Constitution of the United States in force December 15, 1791. http://www.loc.gov  http://1.usa.gov/Ha5LQY

Type Observed: Hobo

I see the typeface “Hobo” in a lot of different places — labels, signs, posters, logos – the list goes on. I once thought that this was one of the ugliest type designs out there, but I now realize that it’s not the design itself, or even the terrible name — it’s mostly because of how it’s used and misused. Of all the type crimes out there (thank you Ellen Lupton: http://www.thinkingwithtype.com/contents/extras/#Type_Crimes), you’ll often find Hobo as a nearby accomplice. And I’ve certainly made my jokes about this “awful” typeface over the years, but once I studied the origin and the history of this design, I’ve become much less critical.
Stylistically, Hobo looks like something crafted from 1970′s, but was actually designed in 1910 towards the end of the Art Noveau Movement. It was designed by Morris Fuller Benton, one of America’s most prolific typeface designers. After closer examination, the letters are actually well-proportioned (when typeset properly) — every part of each letter is curved, which gives it a decorative effect, but with a modern twist. It’s lowercase letters are unique — descenders that do not drop below the baseline. Yeah, it’s weird — but it’s designed to be a display type. Fairly progressive for 1910, considering that most typography from that period was very decorative and ornate.

So I’m no longer a Hobo-hater. I just hate seeing it being misused.

Note: If you’ve seen examples of Hobo type out there (good or bad), please send  some pics my way – I’m starting a collection of images and would love to include yours! Thanks.

if…

Sometimes things appear in the most unexpected places. If this had been more obvious, it would have jumped out of the water and bit me. Which is something that crossed my mind while paddling down the calm Cedar Creek in the Congaree National Park/Swamp. We saw 300-year old bald cypress trees and tupelos, dragonflys, fishing spiders, jumping fish, and numerous snakes. Will and I paddled a little too close to a brown water snake that was hanging out on a branch above. A little too close for me, but we gently cruised on by and all was well.

But seeing this word appearing out of the water is what made the trip even better. A slanted lower case “i” (complete with the dot) and a perfectly positioned upper case “F”. Perfect. And living there in perfect harmony in nature as if it were asking us to complete the sentence. iF ...

Maybe you had to be there, but for me, it was fantastic. I've been trying to complete the sentence ever since.

Thanks to Jeff McGurk for the shot for me (and for organizing the trip). Let's go back soon and see what else we can discover.