Figure 170
Garamond’s Grecs du Roi (three sizes) used in Greek edition of Appiani Alexandrini Romanarum Historiarum: Estienne, Paris
From Google Books (scan 1, scan 2, scan 3)
1551
Their design was based on the handwriting of a clever calligrapher, Angelos Vergetios—“notre écrivain en grec,” as François I styled him. Garamond was employed to cut the punches of these types under the direction of Robert Estienne, and they were completed, apparently, by 1541. They were in three sizes. These fonts were intended to reproduce as closely as possible the Greek handwriting of that day as exemplified by Vergetios’ fine manuscripts; and though this was not, from a present-day point of view, an advantage, it was thought to be so then.… All three types are shown in the illustration.