page_title: Akzidenz-Grotesk
section_title: Metal type versions
hierarchical_section_title: Akzidenz-Grotesk / Versions / Metal type versions
caption_attribution_description: 'Standard' is the American name for Akzidenz Grotesk
context_page_description: Akzidenz-Grotesk is a sans-serif typeface family originally released by the Berthold Type Foundry of Berlin. Akzidenz indicates its intended use as a typeface for commercial print runs such as publicity, tickets and forms, as opposed to fine printing, and "grotesque" was a standard name for sans-serif typefaces at the time.
  Originating during the late 19th century, Akzidenz-Grotesk belongs to a tradition of general-purpose, unadorned sans-serif types that had become dominant in German printing during the 19th century. Relatively little-known for a half-century after its introduction, it achieved iconic status in the post-war period as the preferred typeface of many Swiss graphic designers in what became called the 'International' or 'Swiss' design style which became popular across the Western world in the 1950s and 1960s. Its simple, neutral design has also influenced many later typefaces. It has sometimes been sold as Standard or Basic Commercial in English-speaking countries, and a variety of digital versions have been released by Berthold and other companies.
context_section_description: Berthold's Akzidenz-Grotesk family by the late metal type period included the following styles. English names are taken from Berthold's Type Specimen (German: Schriftprobe) No. 473 except where stated otherwise:
  Akzidenz-Grotesk (Standard, available on Linotype in modified form as series 57 with oblique)
  Halbfett (Medium or literally semi-bold, available on Linotype in modified form as series 58 and as poster type)
  Mager (Light, sometimes sold as Royal-Grotesk)
  Fett (Bold, available as poster type)
  Schmalmager (Light Condensed)
  Eng (Condensed)
  Schmalhalbfett (Medium Condensed, originally called "Steinschrift eng". Not designed by Berthold. The 'R' has a curled leg and in metal type the 't' no base.)
  Schmalfett (Bold Condensed, originally called "Bücher-Grotesk halbfett". Available as poster type, 'R' with a curled leg)
  Extra (Extrabold Condensed, tighter-spaced than the Schmalfett weight)
  Extrafett (Compact, or literally, also extra-bold)
  Skelett (Extralight Extended)
  Breitmager (Light Extended)
  Breit (Extended)
  Breithalbfett (Medium Extended, or literally Semi-bold Extended)
  Breitfett (Extrabold Extended, or literally Bold Extended)
  Reynolds prefers 'Bold Condensed' to describe the Schmalhalbfett and 'Condensed Heavy' for the Schmalfett. Other weights were added by the time of the phototypesetting and digital versions, such as the ultra-bold 'Akzidenz-Grotesk Super'.
caption: Akzidenz-Grotesk had several condensed weights in the metal type period, such as this condensed bold.
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