Font Fridays: Cordial Bloom and more!

October 16, 2009
by Mandy Brown
119 Comments

We’re pleased to announce that starting this week Typedia will sponsor regular giveaways to the Typedia community. We’re grateful to all the wonderful people working to make Typedia a success, and this is our way of giving thanks.

A font that grows

To kick things off, we’ve partnered with Veer to give away one license to Cordial Bloom. A unique typeface, Cordial Bloom is “one part illuminated capitals, one part Art Deco, and one part Marian Bantjes.” Designed by Riccardo Olocco and Daniele Zanoni, Cordial Bloom’s three weights combine to create thousands of unique (and delightful) display caps.

The master typographer

This week we’ve also got a second prize: a copy of Jan Tschichold: Master Typographer from Thames&Hudson. Edited by Cees W. de Jong, the book is a complete study of Tschichold’s life, work, and legacy, featuring essays from Jorre Both, Stefanie Burger, Martijn F. Le Coultre, Richard Doubleday, and Alston W. Purvis.

How it works

All readers can enter by answering the following question in the comments: What’s your favorite ampersand? You have until 6pm EDT today to submit your answer. You may only enter once. After 6pm, two winners will be randomly selected, and we’ll announce the winners here.

Good luck to you all; but, if you don’t win this week, don’t worry! We’ve got more fonts and books to give away, and maybe something special when the holidays get near. For now, let’s talk ampersands!

Update: And we have two winners! Guerella wins the license for Cordial Bloom, and Shane Guymon wins Jan Tschichold: Master Typographer. Congrats to you both!

1. jen strickland Oct 16, 2009

I don’t have a favorite ampersand. Whatever works in the particular situation. Shrug. :)
2. jen strickland Oct 16, 2009

However, I LOVE that Cordial Bloom font, so I absolutely had to enter…
3. Mike Crittenden Oct 16, 2009

Adobe Caslon Pro Semibold Italic is number one for me.
4. faberdesign Oct 16, 2009

Been digging the Bello ampersand of late. So voluptuous.
5. Anna Pearlman Oct 16, 2009

I love Herculanum’s ampersand. but I agree with Jen as well, whatever works with the design the best is the way to go!
6. Christopher O'Donnell Oct 16, 2009

Baskerville Oblique.
7. tjhellmann Oct 16, 2009

I’ve been liking the funkiness of Scala Sans italic recently
8. tomliv Oct 16, 2009

Arial Ital. I’m a slightly skewed web dev… :-P
9. brianbaker Oct 16, 2009

Eloquent for sure.
10. whiteboxer Oct 16, 2009

I’m not a big fan of Palatino, but it has a really nice ampersand.
11. Chris Oct 16, 2009

Baskerville Italic is beautiful
12. blueroot Oct 16, 2009

I love smooth curves of Museo Sans.
13. KasinKris Oct 16, 2009

I’m going to have to go with cliffordEighteen AltF and/or Bickham Script Pro.. 2 completely different styles of Ampersand so I can’t really pick which one is my favorite.
14. struiling Oct 16, 2009

Probably a common favorite ampersand: Garamond.
15. mhogenmiller Oct 16, 2009

I’m digging the odd configuration of Coffee Service’s ampersand as-of-late.
16. aarontw Oct 16, 2009

Cooper black. It looks like a creature.
17. Alec Oct 16, 2009

Hoefler Text Bold Italic Alternate

Oh yeah.
18. ableparris Oct 16, 2009

Phaeton has two. I’m quite fond of one of them.
19. Jeremy Swinnen Oct 16, 2009

For me Adobe Caslon is a winner!
20. kivodesigns Oct 16, 2009

Baskerville.
21. thankUelfano Oct 16, 2009

ITC Bauhaus® Light for my “&” ! 4-sure 4-serious! =]
22. scottboms Oct 16, 2009

There’s a soft spot in my heart for Perla by Gareth Hague.
23. bedrios Oct 16, 2009

Fette Fraktur Dfr is where is at : )
24. robe Oct 16, 2009

Baskerville Italic, it used it on a funeral programme for someone dear to me recently, so I hold it in high regard.
25. Jesse Oct 16, 2009

Hoefler Italic, followed by Baskerville Oblique.
26. ryanbrill Oct 16, 2009

Today, it’s Hoefler Text Italic.
27. BradMcGonigle Oct 16, 2009

Baskerville Italic will always be one of my favorites but I like the simplicity of Trade Gothic Bold Oblique.
28. ajiracreative Oct 16, 2009

I swoon for a good slab and I adore the Rockwell Std-Extra Bold ampersand.
29. gregone Oct 16, 2009

Weidemann Black Italic’s ampersand is neat.
30. Kevin M Jackson Oct 16, 2009

I’m really digging Requiem Display Italic, right now.
31. nathan_ford Oct 16, 2009

It has been said before, but more specifically: Berthold’s Baskerville Italic. Oh, and least favorite: Trebuchet’s ampersand.
32. cssboy Oct 16, 2009

My recent favorite is Capsa’s swashes ampersand.
33. Forrest Vess Oct 16, 2009

Caslon 540 Italic
34. dmolanphy Oct 16, 2009

Baskerville Italic.
35. splittingfield Oct 16, 2009

Look at the Character set for theAntiqua by Luc(as) de Groot. My favorite ampersand is the final ampersand listed (in punctuation symbols; 7th row; 3rd column from right).

In general, I am a fan of ampersands that more closely resemble the “et”
36. Elizabeth Carey Smith Oct 16, 2009

Really loving Chronicle Text Roman at the moment!
37. Edward O'Connor Oct 16, 2009

Goudy Old Style Italic, with Baskerville Italic and OFL Sorts Mill Goudy Italic as co-runners-up.
38. CreativeSquall Oct 16, 2009

Goudy Trajan
39. ali_j Oct 16, 2009

Home Run by Doyald Young. The ampersand is in reverse inside a circle.
40. Gonzalo González Mora Oct 16, 2009

Baskerville Italic :)
41. muddypebbles Oct 16, 2009

ITC Benguiat Std is a winner in my eyes for top ampersand.
42. arthuradesign Oct 16, 2009

Does wingdings count? If not, I really like Goudy Modern Italic.
43. mklappstuhl Oct 16, 2009

Wilhelm Klingspor Gotisch LT Std ‘s ampersand is really nice too.
44. Jeff Fisher LogoMotives Oct 16, 2009

I’ve always liked the “curly-q” elegance and playfulness in the alternate ampersand of American Typewriter Condensed Light.
45. jimdoran Oct 16, 2009

Bernhard Modern. Among many others.
46. trudesign Oct 16, 2009

I love Charlemagne Std Regular’s Ampersand. Its beautifully stroked.
47. stardustl6 Oct 16, 2009

today it’s engravers bold, although my copywriter told me she despises ampersands. i shall change her mind!!
48. jmetter Oct 16, 2009

In my mind, Helvetica Bold includes the archetypal ampersand.
49. iamdanmckinley Oct 16, 2009

<a href=“http://www.typography.com/fonts/font_overview.php?productLineID=100004”>H&FJ;‘s Didot Bold Italic</a> (in any of the optical sizes).

If an ampersand were ever to be featured in The Sartorialist, slumped over a cafe in Paris smoking a cigarette with an espresso, this would be it.
50. Erica Burnett Oct 16, 2009

I love Goudy Old Style Italic’s ampersand. But there are so many to love!
51. hauptdesign Oct 16, 2009

the BELIZIO ampersands are ridiculously versatile
52. Dave Dawson Oct 16, 2009

I’m a big fan of Adobe Garamond Pro Italic’s ampersand. It’s a little more elegant than the original Garamond ampersand. Beautiful!
53. rkopel Oct 16, 2009

adobe garamond pro italic. pretty pretty.
54. Will Ayers Oct 16, 2009

I like simple ampersands that actually look like they go with the font. Some fonts have this crazy ampersand that is pretty cool but looks like it is from a different font. One of my favorites would be Futura’s Ampersand.
55. Jennifer Daniel Oct 16, 2009

This is such a visual question, I wish there was a way to see what everyone’s favs are in the comments.

Love it: http://www.davidstanden.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2008/05/fubiz_48321c9ab88d7.jpg
56. Cade_One Oct 16, 2009

I’m torn between Shardee, PhyllisD, and IowanOldSt BT. And I agree with Jimdoran, Bernhard Modern is pretty nice too.
57. kevinmhoffman Oct 16, 2009

Adobe Garamond Pro Italic. That’s what she said!

Seriously, someone just said that.
58. Seth Gerard Oct 16, 2009

this might be bad form, not knowing the typeface and all, but i really love this ampersand:

http://www.etsy.com/view_listing.php?listing_id=30623309
59. firecracker Oct 16, 2009

ITC New Baskerville Bold &/or Italic!
60. kevinmhoffman Oct 16, 2009

Actually, it’s Adobe Caslon Pro Italic I like.
61. ypcruz Oct 16, 2009

I’ve always loved Baskerville Italic, but I’m going to give my vote to Bauer Bodoni Black.
62. bcoller Oct 16, 2009

Can’t go wrong with the classic (and beautiful) Caslon ampersand, but I’m also really digging the more modern BPmono ampersand.
63. robertdwaller Oct 16, 2009

Hoefler Text Roman Alternate
64. JustinSlack Oct 16, 2009

Baskerville Italic gets my vote.
65. magneticshape Oct 16, 2009

I am not a fan of the ampersand, and I think it depends on what’s on either side of it. But I would go with Adobe Caslon.
66. DistractedReader Oct 16, 2009

Sabon Roman
67. aarontw Oct 16, 2009

Village Italic is pretty great, too. Along similar lines as Caslon/Baskerville
68. mrsharon Oct 16, 2009

Missionary because it’s crazy and beautiful.
69. jwtdesign Oct 16, 2009

Bookman Old Style is pretty sweet.
70. mariehohner Oct 16, 2009

I have too many favorites to narrow it down so I’ll choose one exclusive to Veer since their generously sponsoring this… My choice is Alejandro Paul’s Mr. Dafoe for it’s hand-painted goodness.
71. GregD Oct 16, 2009

ITC American Typewriter’s alternate ampersand. You never expect a typewriter face to have such an ornate ampersand.
72. designfrontier Oct 16, 2009

BodoniFLF—Bold for me…
73. vinneyt Oct 16, 2009

Warnock Light Italic or Mrs Eaves Italic. The Warnock figure has this kind of sturdy grace with those flared, angular serifs and the Mrs Eaves reminds me of a willow tree blowing in the wind. Like it just bends forward ever-so-slightly.

Fabulous question!
74. procload Oct 16, 2009

For my money, it’s hard to beat the Baskerville ampersand.
75. evanmacdonald Oct 16, 2009

Bree from type together has quite the ampersand… my real favorite? handwritten ampersands (unless they are little pluses or cursive E’s with a line).
76. wtamplin Oct 16, 2009

I’ve been a huge fan of Baskerville’s, but I’m starting to use more of Sentinel’s Semibold Italic.
77. rhiafaery Oct 16, 2009

I really love the ampersand in the font English111 Vivace BT
78. Kosal Sen Oct 16, 2009

H&FJ;‘s Requiem. The ampersand is elegant, sharp, spacious, and confident.
79. Melns Oct 16, 2009

Baskerville Oblique
80. Eric MacLeod Oct 16, 2009

Bookman Bold-Italic as in “Coffee Bean & Tea Leaf”
81. Shane Guymon Oct 16, 2009

Baskerville italic without a doubt. I even own a shirt with one on it.
82. nhamze Oct 16, 2009

Tough choice, but I gotta say Baskerville
83. AmpDaily Oct 16, 2009

I love all kind of ampersands & I even own a blog dedicated to these beauties! My favourite one is Baskerville italic, though.
Take a look at http://ampdaily.tumblr.com!
84. tinyfly Oct 16, 2009

Bell MT is my current favorite.
85. laanders Oct 16, 2009

Baskerville because it’s an art piece on its own and makes a strong, yet graceful statement in the varying line weights and poetic curves of its strokes…love it
86. Rob Hunter Oct 16, 2009

Relay.
87. Chris Pacheco Oct 16, 2009

Palatino in Italic :D
88. Porteous Oct 16, 2009

Goudy Old Style is gorgeous – not the Italic (which I still like) but the upright version. Beautifully drawn and proportioned.
89. Craig Eliason Oct 16, 2009

Trump Medieval Italic.
90. Sean Mitchell Oct 16, 2009

Auto 3, Light Italic.
91. Craig Eliason Oct 16, 2009

Or I guess that’s Trump Mediaeval Italic.
92. kwhitedesign Oct 16, 2009

@splittingfield My thoughts exactly, and the only time I ever love Rotis. The default ampersand is “Et”.
93. Conor Oct 16, 2009

I love Hoefler Text Italic.
94. Acme Art & Design Oct 16, 2009

I can’t believe no one has mentioned poetica’s ampersand excess?!

http://new.myfonts.com/fonts/linotype/poetica/supp-ampersands/

For a variety of ampersands (found type, sculptural, specimens etc.) ampersand-enthusiasts should visit the Ampersandland flickr group:

Ampersandland
http://www.flickr.com/groups/ampersandland/pool/

their ‘pool’ includes an ampersand pumpkin:
http://www.flickr.com/photos/criana/2078076451/in/pool-ampersandland…

…and a gorgeous neon sans ampersand:
http://www.flickr.com/photos/paulssons/1978167245/in/pool-ampersandland

… if you dig neon …

That said, I must say I dig that classical Caslon swash italic:

http://www.flickr.com/photos/lpareigat/2118458059/in/pool-ampersandland

Best.
95. jnakai Oct 16, 2009

I like the curves & weight contrast of Isadora Bold.
96. darinburris Oct 16, 2009

Bickham Script Pro
97. Riccardo Mori Oct 16, 2009

Goudy Old Style Italic.
98. aaronbell Oct 16, 2009

It is too hard to pick just one, but one that I found recently that is rather interesting and unusual is Salzmann-Fraktur. Sadly, I can’t find a complete specimen of it online.
99. VisualsBySteve Oct 16, 2009

The classic Century Old Style has always looked amazing to me, and a great match to the rest of the character set.
100. xtinaland Oct 16, 2009

out of too many love options, I’ll go for the best classic: baskerville italic. out of the possible prizes for participating? i’d actually love the Tschichold book.
101. Alan Houser Oct 16, 2009

Baskerville Oblique – gorgeousness. :-)
102. mrrrrrrp Oct 16, 2009

Oh yes. Goudy Heavyface Std for sure. It’s so hefty!
103. appleonian Oct 16, 2009

My favorite ampersand: Adobe Caslon Pro Italic.
104. challeelee Oct 16, 2009

Aaux Pro!
105. jasonwhittemore Oct 16, 2009

In honor of Mr. Tschichold, I choose Sabon™ Lt Std Bold Italic & Iwan Stencil™ Regular.
106. Kristin Oct 16, 2009

I like Alejandro Paul’s Sudestada Ampersand quite a lot: the tiny head plus the tail flung over and back is awesome.
107. Brunsvold Oct 16, 2009

Recently, I’ve been using (and loving) the ampersand in Veer’s P22 Underground Demi. Well-formed, usable, and just fancy enough to have a personality worth noticing.
108. WBerkson Oct 16, 2009

The one on the left.
109. Joshua Taylor Oct 16, 2009

I really like the Baskerville ampersand lately. Just so beautiful. It can really make the difference.
110. Brunsvold Oct 16, 2009

I’ve been using (and loving) “P22 Underground Pro Book” (via Veer):http://www.veer.com/products/typedetail.aspx?image=PTT0000273#flont recently. Well-formed, usable, and subtle enough to interesting.
111. danielburgess Oct 16, 2009

It’s not the prettiest, but Lucida Console’s ampersand has a special place in my heart.
112. mehallo Oct 16, 2009

I love Garamond’s original italic ampersand – tho I thought it was too heavy to actually go with the rest of his type.
113. Michael J. Young Oct 16, 2009

Hard to choose, but I’ve always been a big fan for Akzidenz Grotesk.
114. Patrick Haney Oct 16, 2009

Baskerville is obviously great for the ampersand, but it’s almost too typical to use these days. There are a few others I really like, including Alexon (modern serif), Estilo Script (futuristic yet symmetrical), and Alejandro Paul’s Isla (with the classic “et” look).
115. andrewrench Oct 16, 2009

Engravers Gothic Bold is slick
116. davekeyes Oct 16, 2009

Q. My favourite ampersand?
A. I do love the ‘et-ishness’ of the Hoefler Text (Italic) and Baskerville (Italic) ampersands… but my favourite is simply standard Georgia.
117. cbumg Oct 16, 2009

I like Caslon, but Baskerville Italic is my favorite.
118. Andrew Schulz Oct 16, 2009

I just don’t know how anything can compare to the thin thins and thick thicks of John Pistilli and Herb Lubalin’s “Pristilli Roman”. Luckly it has been recently digital reproduced by Jason Walcott for Veer.

http://www.veer.com/products/typedetail.aspx?image=JBT0000118#specimen

Oh sweet and luscious ampersand! I would also love that Jan Tschichold book, one of my heros!
119. Ayaka Ito Oct 16, 2009

Granjon Italic Old Style!!!