Single Cases

Most single cases are squarer in shape than the rectangular Upper, Lower, Job and Double cases. As their name implies, the cases hold full founts, i.e. both upper and lower case characters together. The cases listed below are divided into two bays, by one horizontal or vertical partition. The dates shown are either when published or when viewed, and therefore are not necessarily the earliest appearance of the case. Each case listed can link to a more descriptive page, showing the case layout, and usually a further link to the layout of the type. Note that most of the layouts have been written using html tables, and over time, the way browsers interpret the tables has changed, thus sometimes distorting the diagram. Also, the dimensions of the case so shown are dynamic, and should not be regarded as absolute, and many cases will appear more rectangular than they should. In due course, layouts will be corrected, but unless the source of the information actually states the case dimensions, the diagram may still be conjectural.

The row count, viewed at the left hand end of the case, states e.g.
8 if 8 horizontal rows.
3+6 if 9 horizontal rows, 3 in the top section and 6 in the bottom section.

Empty CasesNo.of rowsNo.of boxes on the leftNo.of boxes in centreNo.of boxes on the rightTotal no. of boxes
German Single Case (Gessner 1740)3+6 102 102
French Combination Case (Ringwalt 1871)1049 67116
Jerusalem Latin Case (as in use in Jerusalem in 1997)4+6 120 120


All empty cases
ie with the boxes left blank
Return to Typecase IdentificationAll type layouts
ie with characters assigned to boxes
Full Index of layoutsGlossary of terms usedSources of the layoutsIntroduction
Quantities in a fount of typeQuantities in a case of type
Notes about Job
and Double Cases
Notes about Upper casesNotes about Lower casesAlembic home page

This page was written in 2014 by David Bolton and last updated 15 January 2015