Onyx/Arsis

Ymir

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Oct 27, 2006, 11:10:27 PM10/27/06

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I'm wondering whether anyone can tell me whether the fonts Onyx and
Arsis are in fact identical, or whether there is some subtle difference
which I am overlooking.

If they are in fact the same typeface, does anyone know which name the
face was originally released under. AFAIK both were first released in
'37, Onyx by ATF and Arsis by Tetterode.

Since Powell was an American I'm assuming the ATF release was first, but
I'd like some confirmation of this if there's anyone out there in the
know.

Also, any ideas on the origin of the name 'Arsis'? I checked a
Dutch-English dictionary, but the name doesn't appear to be meaningful.

André

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use rot thirteen to email
ntvfnnx (at) tznvy.pbz

Bill

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Oct 28, 2006, 5:06:46 AM10/28/06

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I believe Onyx and Arsis are identical. At one time ATF and Typefoundry
Amsterdam had some sort of agreement regarding the exchange of their
type faces.

Lanston Monotype (USA) also did Onyx (perhaps by Sol Hess) which was
probably copied from the ATF original unless Lanston Monotype made some
sort of arangement with ATF (unlikely, I would think). And, Monotype
Corp. (Great Britain) also had Onyx which was probably from Lanston
Monotype's version.

The current digital font by Monotype would appear to be from the
Monotype copy and Adobe "credits" Monotype Corp. with the design but
gives design credit to Gerry Powell who did the ATF version. ??? I
would guess that the Bitstream version was copied from the ATF version.

Bill

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Oct 28, 2006, 5:22:32 AM10/28/06

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On Oct 27, 11:10 pm, Ymir <inva...@invalid.invalid> wrote:

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Meaning of word, Arsis. The On-Line dictionary provded the following:

ar·sis (ärss)
n. pl. ar·ses (-sz)
1.
a. The short or unaccented part of a metrical foot, especially in
quantitative verse.
b. The accented or long part of a metrical foot, especially in
accentual verse.
2. Music The upbeat or unaccented part of a measure.

[Middle English, raising of the voice, from Late Latin, raising of the
voice, accented part of a metrical foot, from Greek, raising of the
foot (marking the upbeat), the unaccented part of a metrical foot, from
aeirein, to lift; see wer-1 in Indo-European roots.]

Bill

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Oct 28, 2006, 6:11:57 AM10/28/06

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On Oct 27, 11:10 pm, Ymir <inva...@invalid.invalid> wrote:

>*** Since Powell was an American I'm assuming the ATF release was first, but

I'd like some confirmation of this if there's anyone out there in the

know. ***
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I believe the ATF version was first. The earliest showing of Onyx that
I saw was in the 1941 American Type Founders catalog.

Bill

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Oct 28, 2006, 6:29:12 AM10/28/06

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On Oct 27, 11:10 pm, Ymir <inva...@invalid.invalid> wrote:

> Andre
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An interesting observation...the lower case "q" on the metal type
version of Onyx and Arsis has a "pointed" top on the vertical stroke
(stem)...I checked Monotype's digital version, Adobe, and URW (Arsis)
and the "q" matches the original metal versions, but Bitstream's
version has a serif at the top of the vertical stroke (like a
"mirrored" p).

Bill

Ymir

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Oct 30, 2006, 10:05:02 PM10/30/06

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In article <1162026406....@m7g2000cwm.googlegroups.com>,
"Bill" <BillsR...@gmail.com> wrote:

Thanks, Bill, for all the information.