OLD GERMAN TYPEFACE
Used widely for printing before
1941, understanding useful for reading the following:
- Reading old books
- Historical research
- Genealogy research
- Reading old documents
- Reading old reports
- Producing new prints
- For profit & fun
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HOW TO UNDERSTAND AND USE OLD GERMAN HANDWRITING
The old German script developed in the 16th century is called Fraktur. The word comes from Latin and means "broken script" (Bruchschrift). This is because its ornament serifs break the continuous line of a word when handwritten.
The study and understanding of older German printing types and hand writing forms are important to many genealogists, historians, and any other researchers with a need to understand the old German printing and writing which is not in general use anymore. Fraktur was used to print or write thousands of the older German documents, letters, books and manuals, and the information they hold is important to researchers.
The three most widely used forms of German handwriting scripts were, Kurrent Kupferstich, and Sütterlin, and Großvater Kurrent. While Kurrent Kupferstich Script was the most commonly used script for handwriting, the other two styles of were in use also in Germany, Austria, and parts
of Switzerland and Tyrol.
However, this lesson will deal with the printing type letters known as Kurrent Kupferstich.
Each of these three examples say the same thing. The first is in English with a common handwriting script, the second is the same English words written with the Kurrent Kupferstich printing type,
and the third is written in German and with the Kurrent Kupferstich printing type.
These examples clearly point out how the printing types differ.
English:
Kurrent Kupferstich is a handwriting style in common use in Germany before 1941. Like any handwriting style, one must
know how each letter of the alphabet is written.
English written in Kurrent Kupferstich:
Kurrent Kupferstich is a handwriting style in common use in Germany before 1941. Like any handwriting style, one must
know how each letter of the alphabet is written.
German in Kurrent Kupferstich:
Kurrent Kupferstich ist ein Handschrift Stil gemeinsam Gebrauch in Deutschland vor 1941. Wie irgendein Handschrift Stil muß Ein wissen wird, wie jeder Brief des Alphabets geschrieben.
Learning to understand, read and write Fraktur as easy as learning how to master any form of printing or handwritten script.
All it takes is practice, learn why mistakes were made, correct errors, and practice until perfect.
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Zentenar Fraktur
A Basic Printing Alphabet
- Documents
- Advertisements
- Form letters
- Books
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HOW TO UNDERSTAND AND USE OLD GERMAN PRINTING
This is basic listing of the type face Zentenar Fraktur, which is used in printing. Zentenar Fraktur was only one of several that were popular. Understanding Zentenar Fraktur printing is best learned by carefully studing, comparing, and reading correct examples of the printing type.
First study the the letters in Columns 1 & 2. Then determine how the letters are used in
the above examples. Then read simple sentences and follow the Zentenar Fraktur style of printing and study how each letter is formed. When your reading skills improve, read more difficult sentence structures and different kinds of ways that Fraktur was used. Read German books, advertisements, form letters, and documents.
And practice does make perfect. So practice your newly developing skills whenever and as often
as you can. Read the Fraktur printing when ever you can. Print the Fraktur type in any language that you may chose.
Letters
A to M |
Column 1 |
Letters
N to Z |
Column 2 |
| A a |
A a |
N n |
N n |
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| B b |
B b |
O o |
O o |
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| C c |
C c |
P p |
P p |
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| D d |
D d |
Q q |
Q q |
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| E e |
E e |
R r |
R r |
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| F f |
F f |
S s |
S s |
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| G g |
G g |
T t |
T t |
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| H h |
H h |
U u |
U u |
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| I i |
I i |
V vv |
V v |
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| J j |
J j |
W w |
W w |
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| K k |
K k |
X x |
X x |
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| L l |
L l |
Y y |
Y y |
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| M m |
M m |
Z z |
Z z |
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| sch |
sch |
ss |
ss |
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| Ü ü |
Ü ü |
Ä ä |
Ä ä |
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| Ö ö |
Ö ö |
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| Columns End |
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