| Most lettering from the Old West or "cowboy" era was relatively simple and sometimes even crude. One mistake I often see in period movies or shows is that the lettering is far too ornate (or worse, from the wrong period!) for the particular location. One show that did it right was AMC's Hell on Wheels, which used our fonts for background signs and labels. That's not to say that western signs never featured fancy lettering. Where larger populated towns had local sign painters, lettering was indeed a bit more ornate and often featured scalloped serifs and spurs. However, merchants in more rural towns were often forced to create their own signs and thus these signs utilized simple lettering. If you are attempting to replicate the period, consider carefully how the viewers of your design would have been dressed and match accordingly. The fonts below range from very authentic to the period (Antique Half Block and Full Block for example) to derivative (like Boston Truckstyle and Kodiak). If you examine vintage photographs, films, signage, stagecoaches, and other artwork from the Old West era, I believe that you will appreciate the genuine, enjoyable, and true-to-life essence captured in our collection of Old Western Fonts. If you're in doubt and need assistance making a choice, ask me and I'll be happy to point you in the right direction. |
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