Umbra
Umbra is a sans-serif display typeface designed in 1935 by R. Hunter Middleton for the Ludlow Typograph company. It is an adaptation of the uppercase light weight of his earlier typeface Tempo. The name Umbra refers to its shadow effect, in which the actual letter shape consists of negative space and is defined solely by its black dimensional shadow.
Umbra
- Name
- Umbra
- Field
- sans-serif typeface · geometric typeface
- Period
- 1935
VALÉORINE Encyclopedia
VALÉORINE documentary reading
Documentary summary
Umbra is a sans-serif display typeface designed in 1935 by R. Hunter Middleton for the Ludlow Typograph company. It is an adaptation of the uppercase light weight of his earlier typeface Tempo. The name Umbra refers to its shadow effect, in which the actual letter shape consists of negative space and is defined solely by its black dimensional shadow.
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Documentary evidence
Documentary basis
Authority files
getty · 500472737 · gnd · 300075235 · wikidata · Q7881373
In this article
Overview
Overview
Several other typefaces were created in similar style around the same time, including shadowed weights of Gill Sans. Nebiolo's Ombra, part of their Semplicità family, is very similar.
Key facts
Key facts
• Name — Umbra • Style — Display • Creationdate — 1935 • Creator — R. Hunter Middleton • Foundry — Ludlow • Sample — * Illustration — Umbra sample text
Primary material
Documents and archives
authority file
- Gemeinsame Normdatei 300075235, Umbra.
General reference · Deutsche Nationalbibliothek
- Getty Union List of Artist Names 500472737, Umbra, Buffalo, New York.
General reference · The Getty Research Institute
reference work
- Wikidata, structured authority record Q7881373: Umbra
Reputable secondary · Wikidata
Citations
References
Each reference names the institution holding it, so a reader may go to the document itself.
authority file
Gemeinsame Normdatei 300075235, Umbra.Deutsche Nationalbibliothek
Secondary witnessauthority file
Getty Union List of Artist Names 500472737, Umbra, Buffalo, New York.The Getty Research Institute
Secondary witnessreference work
Secondary witness
The Encyclopedia exists whether or not anything is for sale. Corrections are recorded rather than overwritten, and every version of this record is kept. Published 16 August 2026.
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