An Alphabet for the Underground

In order to put Johnston’s work in context, historian and transport professional Mike Horne had to make a deep study of the development of printing from the introduction of moveable type to today’s electronic typesetting.

In this, his last published work, he examines the technical merits of Johnston’s alphabet designs and corrects some common misconceptions. What were the qualities that distinguished Johnston’s lettering when introduced in 1916, and are they still valid today?