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Typographic units

In contemporary days, most countries use the metric system and express a dimension in meters. This was not the case when Gutenberg refined the moveable type, nor was it the case when Mergenthaler invented the Linotype. Mergenthaler and other inventors continued to work on the already existing typographic units. The system in use were the 'points', and several variations were in use:

Em .166 2/3"
Cicero .178"
Fournier .16476"
Petit .1115"
Point [historical] .0138 1/3"
Point [Linotype] .014"
Didot .0148 1/3"
Point Fournier .01373"


This table was provided by the Intertype Corporation (n.d.; 1929). Note that Intertype relied on the Linotype Points, which was a rounded number of the historical points. For clarity we added the historical points to the table.



Based hereupon, Intertype provides the following calculations:
The Cicero is a unit of measurement used in Europe.
A point, American system, measures .014 inches.
An em, American system, measures .1666 inches.
A point, European system, measures .0148 1/3 inches.
An em, European system, measures .178 inches.
Therefore, a 30-em slug in America would be equivalent to a 28 cicero slug in Europe.

In time, each point size received its own name:

                         
  AMERICAN DIMENSIONS     EUROPEAN DIMENSIONS  
  (1 point = approx. 0.0138 1/3 inch,     (1 point = 0.0148 inch = 0.37583 mm)  
  Linotype rounded this to 0.014 inch)      
       
       
Points   American Inch Inch     Belgian Czech Dutch German Inch mm  
  names (Linotype) (Standard)     names names names names  
       
1       Osminka (petitu) 0.376  
2       Čtvrtpetit 0.752  
3       briliant 1.128  
4       Diamant 1.504  
5   Pearl 0.070 0.06920     Perl 0.074 1.880  
5 1/2   Agate 0.077 0.07612      
6   Nonpareil 0.084 0.08304     Nonpareille Nonparel Nonpareille 0.089 2.256  
7   Minion 0.098 0.09688     Kolonel Colonel Kolonel 0.104 2.633  
8   Brevier 0.112 0.11072     Petit Galjard Petit 0.119 3.009  
9   Bourgeois 0.126 0.12456     Borgis Garmond Borgis 0.133 3.385  
10   Long Primer 0.140 0.13840     Garmond Dessendiaan Korpus 0.148 3.761  
11   Small Pica 0.154 0.15224     Breviář Mediaan 11 Punkte 0.163 4.137  
12   Pica 0.168 0.16608     Cicero Cicero Augustijn Cicero 0.178 4.513  
13       13 punten 13 Punkte 0.193 4.89  
14   English 0.196 0.19376     Střední 14 punten Mittel 0.208 5.265  
16   Columbian 0.224 0.22144     Tercie 6.017  
18   Great Primer 0.252 0.24912     Parangon 6.393  
20   Paragon 0.280 0.27680     text 7.521  
24   Double Pica 0.336 0.33216     Dvoucicero 9.026  
28       dvoustřední 10.530  
30   Five-line Nonpareil 0.420 0.41520      
36   Double Great Primer 0.504 0.49824      
                         



The following calculations were used:

  1. In the Netherlands, 1 point = 0.0148 inch = 0.37583 mm. The Dutch information is based on: Adams (1966), De Jong (1947).
  2. In the United States, 1 point = approx. 0.0138 1/3 inch, Linotype rounded this to 0.014 inch. The American information is based on: Intertype Corporation (n.d.; 1929), Thompson (1918).

Sources

The following sources were consulted to create those tables:

  1. ADAMS, J.B.J. (1966). “Lessen machinezetten aan de Lino- en Intertype” [Courses machine setting at the Lino- and Intertype]. [by: Centrale opleidingscommissie voor het boekdrukkers- en rasterdiepdrukbedrijf].
  2. DE JONG I.C.H. (1947). Handboek voor den lino en intertypezetter [manual for the Linotype and Intertype operator].
  3. INTERTYPE CORPORATION (n.d.) Intertype Hand Book. A brief manual of instruction for users of the intertype. Brooklyn, New York.
  4. INTERTYPE CORPORATION. (1929). The Intertype. Its function, care, operation and adjustment. Brooklyn: New York.
  5. NATIONAL TECHNICAL MUSEUM PRAGUE. (n.d.). No name [Poster about type sizes].
  6. THOMPSON, J.S. (1918). The mechanism of the Linotype. The inland printer company, Chicago.

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