Modesto Text Light & Light Italic
Parkinson Type Design · Jim Parkinson
A revival of American signpainter lettering from the late 19th century, developed from Jim Parkinson's original work for the Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey Circus logo.
About
Modesto Text Light draws on the vernacular hand-lettering traditions popular in American commercial signage around the turn of the twentieth century. The design grew directly from lettering Parkinson created for the Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey Circus, giving it an authentic connection to that period's showbill and circus poster typography. The Text cut represents a lighter, more refined variant within the broader Modesto family.
Classification
A display typeface rooted in the hand-lettering traditions of late 19th and early 20th century American signpainters, with circus and vernacular typography influences placing it firmly in the display category.