In 1931, Bauer issued two series of initials accompanying
Weiß-Antiqua,
Weiß-Initialen Serie I and Serie II, in a
few large sizes (36, 48, 60pt) [Bertheau, Klimsch-Kartei]. In 1935,
a bolder cut of the former was added as Serie III.
This triple became known as Weiss Initials
Nos. 1–3 in the
English-speaking world. The initials for Weiß-Rundgotisch
were named Serie IV (1938). In c. 1950, a bold version of Serie II
was added. [Bertheau] The four roman styles were then made
available in 8 sizes (adding 12, 16,
20, 24, 28pt), with numerals and punctuation, and renamed:
Weiß-Kapitale mager (was:
Serie I) and
kräftig (III), and Weiß-Lapidar
mager (II) and kräftig.
[Bauer specimen] The flared low-contrast Weiß-Lapidar
has Romanesque alternates for ‘A’, ‘E’, and ‘G’ in both weights.
The alternate ‘G’ is also present in Weiß-Kapitale
kräftig. [Musterkartei DIN 16507]
Digitizations include OPTI Weiss Initials More…
In 1931, Bauer issued two series of initials accompanying Weiß-Antiqua, Weiß-Initialen Serie I and Serie II, in a few large sizes (36, 48, 60pt) [Bertheau, Klimsch-Kartei]. In 1935, a bolder cut of the former was added as Serie III. This triple became known as Weiss Initials Nos. 1–3 in the English-speaking world. The initials for Weiß-Rundgotisch were named Serie IV (1938). In c. 1950, a bold version of Serie II was added. [Bertheau] The four roman styles were then made available in 8 sizes (adding 12, 16, 20, 24, 28pt), with numerals and punctuation, and renamed: Weiß-Kapitale mager (was: Serie I) and kräftig (III), and Weiß-Lapidar mager (II) and kräftig. [Bauer specimen] The flared low-contrast Weiß-Lapidar has Romanesque alternates for ‘A’, ‘E’, and ‘G’ in both weights. The alternate ‘G’ is also present in Weiß-Kapitale kräftig. [Musterkartei DIN 16507]
Digitizations include OPTI Weiss Initials No.1–3 (Castcraft, 1990–1991), Quadrivium (Nick’s Fonts, 2002, based on No.2), and Weiss Lapidar aka Weiss Initialen by Dieter Steffmann (2002, based on No.2). Wellsbrook (Spiece Graphics) is the only version to span all four styles. See also NaN Weiss (NaN, 2020).
