I received my chocolate "B" from my Dutch co-worker two days ago, 5
December. He apologized that the store had run out of "J"'s ... but of
course "B"'s contain a lot more chocolate! I'm trying to teach him my
Chinese name ...
Joe B.
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Date: 5 Dec 90 04:46:00 PST (Wednesday)
Subject: fonts for St. Nicolas
From: "J. W. van Wingen" <BUTPAA%HLERUL2.BITNET@psuvm.psu.edu>
To: Multiple recipients of list ISO10646 <ISO10646@jhuvm>
Dear Colleagues
For this special day I have a very special topic. Today is St. Nicolas
Eve, that is our "boxing day". Thus it is Letter Day, for people use to
give their friends and relations as a traditional present the Initial
Letter of their name, usually in chocolate. Thus there are enormous
piles of chocolate letters in the shops, all to be sold before tomorrow.
From our point of view the curious aspects are that these letters are
all capital, of the same font (serif), of two sizes only (large and
medium, sometimes also small, for children), and of the same weight
(within one size). But not the whole Latin alphabet is covered, there is
obviously a subrepertoire in use. This can only be discovered
empirically, and it is different for the various makes and producers.
(There are about 4 brands, Droste, Verkade, Baronie, Cote d'or (new),
and 3 chain-brands, V&D, Hema, Jamin). The I is a rarity, perhaps
because it is difficult to design one of the same weight as the other
letters. Q, X, Y are only available in one chain store, but U and Z are
also difficult to obtain. The others are being produced according to
some frequency distribution, which does not always corresponds to
consumers demands, and when the Day comes nearer, you can see many
people frantically delving in the piles, hoping to find at last the
letter they need.
The novelty of this year is the appearance of a new font (Verkade),
modelled on the computer display of straight lines and thus called in
Dutch "digitaal".
Thus, I hope, I could contribute for today to your knowledge and
amusement.
Best regards, Johan van Wingen
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