An all-caps open Tuscan with slight SE shade. Some
versions/larger sizes are additionally ornamented with holes at the
middle height of the letters.
McGrew shows the less ornate version and states it originated
with the Dickinson Type Foundry in Boston about 1850. “Nicolette
Gray traces it to Stephenson Blake, 1858 and ‘German, 1854.’ The
more ornate version is shown in Hænel 1847. Gray describes it as
‘Besley, c1860’ and ‘German, 1864.’ In or before 1867, L. Johnson
paired the two faces in the same grouping with Fargo
in the smallest size. No specimen examined bears a tradename, and
none claims rights to the design.” [Type
Heritage Project]
Typefounders of Phoenix made a foundry type revival of the less
ornate style probably in the 1950s and sold it under the name
Fargo. [Kelsey]
Photo-Lettering More…
An all-caps open Tuscan with slight SE shade. Some versions/larger sizes are additionally ornamented with holes at the middle height of the letters.
McGrew shows the less ornate version and states it originated with the Dickinson Type Foundry in Boston about 1850. “Nicolette Gray traces it to Stephenson Blake, 1858 and ‘German, 1854.’ The more ornate version is shown in Hænel 1847. Gray describes it as ‘Besley, c1860’ and ‘German, 1864.’ In or before 1867, L. Johnson paired the two faces in the same grouping with Fargo in the smallest size. No specimen examined bears a tradename, and none claims rights to the design.” [Type Heritage Project]
Typefounders of Phoenix made a foundry type revival of the less ornate style probably in the 1950s and sold it under the name Fargo. [Kelsey]
Photo-Lettering had a phototype adaptation of both styles under the names Stefra (ornate style, before 1965) and Fargo (before 1971). Photoscript offered it, too.
Digitized in 2013 by Alan Prescott as Farmergirl Roman (ornate) and Farmerboy Roman. [Type Heritage Project] It’s not clear whether these digitizations are released.
