Geotype Submission

The Geotype project charts the rich history of lettering and type forms that have established the identity of cities and towns around the world. Explore the map

How does this letter-form communicate its location?

The tabac sign, officially named “la carotte” due to its resemblance to how tobacco leaves were packaged together in a carrot-shaped roll in the 16th century, is a legal obligation for all tobacco stores in France and has become an iconic symbol which is instantly attributed to the country. With these stores each privately-owned, the typeface used tends to vary slightly, but in general they all share a number of common characteristics, such as using a capitalised, sans serif form that expands and condenses to follow the diamond-shape of the sign. With smoking being such an integral part of French culture, these signs really add to the identity of Paris as the capital city, with the neon, red colouring used to instantly draw in the reader’s attention.

Location

36 Rue Oberkampf, Paris, France