# Finding a certain type of font, or letter **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [October 23, 2003, 11:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/finding-a-certain-type-of-font-or-letter/209214 "2003-10-23T23:27:11Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 8\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Baker](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/bb73d2/32.png) [@Baker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Baker)\ **Post date:** [October 23, 2003, 11:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/finding-a-certain-type-of-font-or-letter/209214/1 "2003-10-23T23:27:11Z")
I have been googling around looking for a font that would resemble the old, or medeival, type of printing. You know, the kind with all the curlicues and so forth. But I don’t know what it is called. I’ve found a bazillion sites with free fonts, but it’s tough slogging through them looking for what I want. Maybe it’s not even out there. Anyway, if someone could help point me in the right direction I would sure appreciate it. One other teensy thing. Does anyone know the name for those elaborate letters that began the first page, chapter, or paragraph, of the old illuminated manuscripts monks used to make, before the printing press? ---
**Author:** ![Freiheit](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/e8c25b/32.png) [@Freiheit](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Freiheit)\ **Post date:** [October 24, 2003, 12:41am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/finding-a-certain-type-of-font-or-letter/209214/2 "2003-10-24T00:41:07Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Baker \* > \*\* > One other teensy thing. Does anyone know the name for those elaborate letters that began the first page, chapter, or paragraph, of the old illuminated manuscripts monks used to make, before the printing press? \*\* I’ve heard them called simply ‘initial caps’. > [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Baker \* > **I have been googling around looking for a font that would resemble the old, or medeival, type of printing. You know, the kind with all the curlicues and so forth. But I don’t know what it is called. I’ve found a bazillion sites with free fonts, but it’s tough slogging through them looking for what I want. Maybe it’s not even out there. Anyway, if someone could help point me in the right direction I would sure appreciate it.** Are you talking about Old English/Blackletter/Fraktur fonts? (letters with curlicues might be swash caps or swash terminals.) ---
**Author:** ![sailor](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/a587f6/32.png) [@sailor](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/sailor)\ **Post date:** [October 24, 2003, 12:46am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/finding-a-certain-type-of-font-or-letter/209214/3 "2003-10-24T00:46:32Z")
Maybe you are thinking of the old German Gothic or Fractur fonts? ---
**Author:** ![Freiheit](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/e8c25b/32.png) [@Freiheit](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Freiheit)\ **Post date:** [October 24, 2003, 1:05am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/finding-a-certain-type-of-font-or-letter/209214/4 "2003-10-24T01:05:46Z")
does it look like these? [http://www.fonts.com/findfonts/detail.asp?pid=201603](http://www.fonts.com/findfonts/detail.asp?pid=201603) [http://www.fonts.com/findfonts/detail.asp?pid=403970](http://www.fonts.com/findfonts/detail.asp?pid=403970) [http://www.waldenfont.com/public/gbpmanual.pdf](http://www.waldenfont.com/public/gbpmanual.pdf) contains lots of information on Fraktur fonts, even though it’s kind of an advertisement. Old English: [http://www.fonts.com/findfonts/detail.asp?pid=205298](http://www.fonts.com/findfonts/detail.asp?pid=205298) ---
**Author:** ![Baker](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/bb73d2/32.png) [@Baker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Baker)\ **Post date:** [October 24, 2003, 1:50am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/finding-a-certain-type-of-font-or-letter/209214/5 "2003-10-24T01:50:57Z")
**Freiheit** , that Old English is just what I had envisioned. Also, after(per your suggestion) of the term “drop caps” I googled some more and found a pretty Celtic set of initials. Thanks everyone for the help. ---
**Author:** ![Freiheit](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/e8c25b/32.png) [@Freiheit](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Freiheit)\ **Post date:** [October 24, 2003, 2:39am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/finding-a-certain-type-of-font-or-letter/209214/6 "2003-10-24T02:39:52Z")
But… I didn’t mention drop caps. 😕 Anyway, if you’re into Celtic lettering, try [here](http://www.abstractfonts.com/fonts/?d=Celtic&p=1) ---
**Author:** ![Baker](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/bb73d2/32.png) [@Baker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Baker)\ **Post date:** [October 24, 2003, 2:55am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/finding-a-certain-type-of-font-or-letter/209214/7 "2003-10-24T02:55:47Z")
I had it wrong, it was _intial_ caps you mentioned. Oh well, using caps must have been what got it. ---
**Author:** ![stockton](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/b5a626/32.png) [@stockton](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/stockton)\ **Post date:** [October 24, 2003, 5:00am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/finding-a-certain-type-of-font-or-letter/209214/8 "2003-10-24T05:00:46Z")
You’ll have a bit of luck searching on the word “uncial,” too. Happy hunting.