1. THE FONT
LaPolice is the first revival of an exceptional font produced in exceptional circumstances. Forget copyrights, trademarks: LaPolice is he first hacking of importance in the history of typography! It is the immediate copy of one of the largest typography innovations of the celebrated Romain du Roi created in 1705, which was used as the typeface for the court of Louis the XIV. What did the police do? Nothing.
The creator of this type, Mathieu Malherbe Des Portes, the sole hallmark punch cutter of all of Paris proper, himself had trained Phillippe Granjean, the engraver of the font Romain du Roi. His version carries all of the unique characteristics of the Romain du Roi, such as the new horizontal serifs, sometimes doubled and the secant L. LaPolice is rounder and more dynamic than its original model - it is also more modern and 'organic'. LaPolice is named after a document named "Traité de la Police".
François Rappo has designed the revival of LaPolice minutely basing it on the original specimens of the Claude Lamelse's Foundry in Paris (1742). LaPolice is a contemporary font, dynamic in it's balance, with a touch of irony in its references of historic details.
2. THE DESIGNER
François Rappo lives and works on the shore of the lake of Geneva. Graphic designer and typographer he is active in the field of book design and type design as well as corporate and exhibition design. He is also active in the field of graphic design education.
3. VERSIONS AND FORMATS
La Police comes only in one version, the "basic", as it is a faithful digitallization of the historical character. Extra ligatures are available in a limited "Expert" set that accompanies the "Basic" set. The "Expert" set is given for free
close