Gothic Round in a variation of the standard Gothic typeface. According to the Rob Roy Kelly Wood-type Website, the origin of the Gothic typeface dates back to the late 1700s in England when san-serif letters were used on inscriptions and sign boards. These letters had equal stroke weights but no serifs. By 1816 this san-serif typeface was being cast in metal in England. Over time it became known as Egyptian or Grotesque. When it was introduced in the US it became known as Gothic.

The Gothic typeface first appeared as wood-type in Nesbitt’s 1838 catalog of Edwin Allan’s wood-type. The catalog featured several variations of Gothic including Gothic Round. This typeface is the same as standard Gothic except that the external corners are all rounded. The other wood-type manufacturers quickly copied it. Our sample “DRIVE THRU” is a 6 line wood-type manufactured by the Page Company. Today you can find stylized versions of Gothic Round on the logos of some fast food companies.