HEX Jubilee
HEX · Walter Tracy · 1953
A digital adaptation of Walter Tracy's 1953 Linotype newspaper face, which was engineered to outperform Times Roman under general British production conditions.
About
Originally cut for Linotype to serve the mass of British newspapers, Jubilee balances the open counters and sturdiness of Excelsior with the set-width economy of Times Roman. Tracy achieved this through a carefully calculated redistribution of stroke contrast and generous side-spacing, making it viable for both dry-flong stereotyping and photogravure. The Glasgow Herald adopted it in 1954, providing early proof of its practicality under real edition conditions.
Classification
A newspaper text serif with blunt chamfered serifs and modulated stroke contrast sitting between old-face and monotone newsprint faces. Designed specifically for British letterpress production conditions, it occupies a deliberate middle ground between Times Roman and the Ionic-Excelsior group.