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Strange Maps and Fraktur

16 Aug 2012

I have mentioned the excellent "Strange Maps" blog before; it is always worth checking out. The latest post is about the difference between Fraktur and Antiqua as common type families in different European countries.

Fraktur is of course the old-fashioned German (and indeed Scandinavian) "gothic letters", no longer in practical use. But they were standard usage in Germany at least until the 1940's. This made me think about Baedekers (funny that) and I went to check...

The early French guides seem never to have used Fraktur, except for emphasis, but even the German guides ceased to use Fraktur sometime in the mid 1850's, which really is quite remarkable. It must have been because they were intended for international use, and non-Germanic speakers were so unused to the style, that it may have caused problems.

Definitely another way in which Karl Baedeker (for he was of course in charge until 1859) showed innovation and was unafraid to break with tradition, when it seemed to hinder the development of the guides.

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