Syntax "the first ever 'sans-serif Roman' "?

Jay Langly

I saw over on 1oo best Typefaces of all times this comment that

Meier had spent exactly 14 years working on the first ever “sans-serif Roman”, from 1954 to 1968.

What do you think they meant here, surely Gill and Johnston preceded this?

Nick Shinn

Don’t expect too much logic in a “100 best of all time” list.
In order to justify what is essentially a subjective choice, the text (if any) will tend towards advertising copy, full of hype, BS and factoids.
FontShop is a retailer, after all.
Compare this selection with the book Fifty Typefaces that Changed the World.
(I wouldn’t waste my time, but if you are interested in top lists…)

John Hudson

I think Syntax might have been first in terms of being based on the proportions of a renaissance roman book face. The fact that it was first released by Stempel under the name 'Syntax Antiqua' is revealing: this is not a term usually applied to sans serif type.