An independent archive of typography.
to participate.
Topics
Formats
Typefaces

Lingua

Contributed by Stephen Coles on Oct 20th, 2012. Artwork published in .
    Lingua 1
    Source: boardgamegeek.com Photo: Stephen Coles. License: CC BY-NC-SA.

    Flea market find: Lingua, a German Scrabble-like game from 1972.

    Lingua 2
    Source: boardgamegeek.com Photo: Stephen Coles. License: CC BY-NC-SA.
    Lingua 3
    Source: boardgamegeek.com Photo: Stephen Coles. License: CC BY-NC-SA.
    Lingua 4
    Source: boardgamegeek.com Photo: Stephen Coles. License: CC BY-NC-SA.

    Typefaces

    • Modern No. 20
    • Helvetica

    Formats

    Topics

    Artwork location

    2 Comments on “Lingua”

    1. Modern No. 20 has to be one of the most beautiful typefaces ever designed.

      The Helvetica numerals reversed out of colored circles seem very reminiscent of Unimark’s New York subway graphics system, although I’m not sure if it was in use by 1972. It would be interesting if this obscure German game inspired the design of the massive transit graphics project.

    2. Paul Shaw is the definitive authority on this subject. In his Helvetica and the New York City Subway System, he mentions that the single and double letter route designation in Standard Medium and 9 colors was introduced in 1970.

    Post a comment