Anton Janson

Anton Janson ( born January 17, 1620 walls, Friesland, Netherlands, † November 18, 1687 in Leipzig) was a Dutch engraver and type founder.

The font Janson Antiqua owes its name to Anton Janson, who worked in Leipzig in the second half of the 17th century. However, it was cut by Nicolas Kis ( 1650-1702 ). Plenty of confusion was a result of this ( false ) attribution donated: Kis was forgotten in history, Janson lived by a font that he had not created - but which bore his name - on.

The Janson Antiqua was about 1670 cut together with a cursive and was first shown in 1674 in a font sample. The matrices came after the death Jansons in the possession of the type founder Johann Karl Edling. Meanwhile heirs settled the font foundry in the 17th century from Leipzig to Amsterdam. From them the Leipzig typecaster Wolfgang Dietrich Ehrhard acquired after 1710, the matrices. The type was issued by the Ehrhardschen foundry under the name " Dutch Antiqua " and found a large spread. About the Type Foundry W. Drugulin the Janson Antiqua finally reached in 1920 in the possession of D. Stempel AG and by the acquisition of this type foundry in the possession of Linotype.

The Janson Antiqua continues to enjoy great popularity. It is used in numerous publications, such as in the Sunday newspaper.