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?

Magdalen College Magdalen College, founded in 1458. This image is of the college gatehouse just off the high street. It is very common to see the college mottos engraved on the walls of above the entrances to the quads within. The ornate script to me imitates early 15th century script like you would see in printed books of the time eg. Gutenberg’s textura. It does a lot to tell the story of Oxford’s illustrious history along with the heraldry. There is an elegance and a solemnity projecting from the text. A seriousness. A sense from the typography and how it is situated atop the gate that this is institutional. The letterforms have been here long before you and will remain here long after you are gone, even though the highstreet composition may change around it. Impervious.

Location

Oxford OX1 4AU, UK