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International Typeface Corporation

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International Typeface Corporation
Company typeSubsidiary
IndustryTypeface design and licensing
Founded1 January 1970; 56 years ago (1970-01-01) in New York, United States
FounderAaron Burns, Herb Lubalin, Edward Rondthaler
Defunct1986
FateAcquired by Esselte Letraset; later became a brand under Monotype Imaging
SuccessorMonotype Imaging
Headquarters
New York
,
United States
Area served
Worldwide
Key people
Herb Lubalin (original editor of U&lc magazine), Ed Benguiat (noted designer)
ProductsTypeface design, licensing, and distribution; U&lc magazine
OwnerMonotype Imaging
ParentMonotype Imaging
Websitewww.monotype.com

The International Typeface Corporation (ITC) was established in New York in 1970 by Aaron Burns, Herb Lubalin, and Edward Rondthaler as a typeface foundry. Distinguished as one of the earliest type manufacturers without roots in metal type processes, ITC has since become a fully owned brand or subsidiary under Monotype Imaging.

History

ITC was created with the purpose of designing, licensing, and distributing typefaces for both filmsetting and digital typesetting systems worldwide. The company released original designs alongside reinterpretations of traditional typefaces,[1] adapting them for phototypesetting and digital formats, often organizing them into families with multiple weights. Although designers endeavored to maintain the essence of the original fonts, some ITC revivals—for example, ITC Bookman and ITC Garamond—have drawn critique for notable deviations from their classic sources. Among the prominent designers associated with ITC was Ed Benguiat, known for creating the Tiffany and Benguiat font families.[2][3]

A hallmark of ITC's revival approach included enlarging the x-height, offering a broad range of weights from light to ultra bold, providing multiple width options, and incorporating unique ligature combinations, sometimes featuring alternate characters such as swashes.[1]Cite error: The opening <ref> tag is malformed or has a bad name[4]

While the increased x-height enhanced readability at smaller sizes, critics contend that it imparted a more commercial appearance when used in typical text sizes due to the exaggerated height of lowercase letters.

ITC’s typefaces gained extensive popularity. As Gene Gable observed, "You could easily say that ITC designs put a face on the '70s and '80s. [...] You couldn't open a magazine or pass a billboard in the '70s without seeing [them]."[5]

Typefaces

* IT C Luna 
* IT C Machine 
* IT C Matisse 
* IT C Mendoza Roman 
* IT C Migration Sans 
* IT C Mixage 
* IT C Modern No. 216 
* IT C Mona Lisa 
* IT C Motter Corpus 
* IT C Musclehead 
* Neue Aachen 
* IT C New Baskerville 
* Newtext 
* IT C New Winchester 
* IT C Novarese 
* IT C Obelisk 
* IT C Obliqua 
* IT C Officina Sans and Serif 
* IT C Ozwald 
* IT C Panache 
* Papyrus 
* IT C Pioneer 
* IT C Pious Henry 
* IT C Plaza 
* IT C Portago 
* IT C Posterboy 
* IT C Quay Sans 
* IT C Quorum 
* Rage 
* IT C Redonda 
* IT C Ronda 
* IT C Serif Gothic 
* IT C Slimbach 
* IT C Souvenir 
* IT C Snap 
* IT C Stenberg 
* IT C Stone Sans 
* IT C Stone Informal 
* IT C Stylus 
* IT C Styleboy 
* IT C Symbol 
* IT C Tabula 
* IT C Tetra 
* IT C Tiepolo 
* IT C Tiffany 
* IT C Tempus Sans 
* University of California Old Style  
* IT C Usherwood  
* IT C Veljovic  
* IT C Vineyard  
* IT C Vintage  
* IT C Weber Hand  
* IT C Weidemann  
 William Hamilton Page  
 Willow  
 Zapf Chancery  
 Zapf Dingbats  
 Zemke Hand

U&lc magazine

The firm produced U&lc (Upper and Lower Case), a typography-focused publication that highlighted both its classic and contemporary type designs through inventive layouts. Herb Lubalin served as its original editor until his passing in 1981. Celebrated for combining typographic artistry, illustrations, and cartoons by distinguished creators like Lou Myers, the magazine became a magnet for type aficionados and collectors worldwide.

A digital edition debuted in 1998, featuring a fresh sans-serif logo crafted by Mark van Bronkhorst, which replaced Lubalin’s signature swash-lettered emblem. According to editor John D. Berry, the print and online versions were designed to coexist, each emphasizing distinct advantages. Nonetheless, the printed magazine, which had been downsized to an 8.5" by 11" format in 1998, concluded with volume 26, number 2 in the autumn of 1999. The final numbered issue appeared as 42.1.1 in 2010.

John D. Berry authored U&lc: influencing design & typography, published by Mark Batty in 2005, commemorating the publication’s significant contribution to design.

In October 2010, Allan Haley revealed plans to digitize the entire U&lc archive, making it accessible through monthly PDF releases on the Fonts.com blog.

After a redesign of Fonts.com in 2012, articles from U&lc were transferred to the Fonts.com blog within the Learn About Fonts & Typography section to ensure continued availability.

Acquisitions and mergers

In 1986, Esselte Letraset acquired the company; Esselte Letraset had previously taken over Letraset, pioneers known for dry transfer lettering and creators of typefaces used in filmsetting and digital formats. In 2000, Agfa Monotype Corporation purchased International Typeface Corporation (ITC) shares from Esselte. This acquisition included ITC’s extensive library exceeding 1600 typefaces, along with its subscriber and distributor contracts, the itcfonts.com website, and typographic software assets. Post-acquisition, ITC ceased independent operations.

By November 2005, Agfa Monotype rebranded itself as Monotype Imaging, concentrating on its expertise in typographic design and professional printing solutions. Renowned typographers linked with Monotype include Adrian Frutiger, Hermann Zapf, and Matthew Carter.

Further reading

  • Blackwell, Lewis. 20th Century Type. Yale University Press: 2004. .
  • Fiedl, Frederich, Nicholas Ott and Bernard Stein. Typography: An Encyclopedic Survey of Type Design and Techniques Through History. Black Dog & Leventhal: 1998. .

External links

  1. ↑ 1.0 1.1 Cite error: Invalid <ref> tag; no text was provided for refs named Back with a flourish
  2. ↑ Cite error: Invalid <ref> tag; no text was provided for refs named Bomparte NYT
  3. ↑ Cite error: Invalid <ref> tag; no text was provided for refs named Typeroom obit
  4. ↑ Cite error: Invalid <ref> tag; no text was provided for refs named Hardwig Love & Guilt
  5. ↑ Cite error: Invalid <ref> tag; no text was provided for refs named Gable 70s 2
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