Designed by Hermann Zapf in 1939–1940 at Haus zum Fürsteneck, at the suggestion of Wilhelm Cunz. A 36pt trial was cut by August Rosenberger at Stempel and first cast in 1940. Punches for Linotype mats were cut in 1940, too, but the war and the Schrifterlass brought the production to a halt. Reworked in 1949/1950, now with less hairlines. Issued in several sizes for hand composition in 1950, incl. a few end swashes, and accompanied by a set of matching initials. [Weichselbaumer] These Gilgengart Initialen were never issued. [Klingspor-Museum] First used for Des Kaisers neue Kleider, produced by Stempel for the Gesellschaft der Bibliophilen. [Weichselbaumer]

Digital versions include LT Gilgengart (Lindenthal, 1998, incl. some swash caps that appear to be inspired by but not identical to the original initials), Gilgengart (Gerhard Helzel, 2003, in 2 sizes, 28pt and 10pt), DS-Gilgengart (Gerhard Helzel for Delbanco, 2013, apparently largely identical to his own 10pt size), and RMU Gilgengart (Ralph Unger, 2020). All versions seem to include the alternate end swashes.