Puncho
TYPE BY · Fred Smeijers · 2012
A stencil typeface by Fred Smeijers based on 19th-century metal letter punches made by S. M. Spencer of Boston, with letterforms constrained by the mechanical realities of their original manufacture at 1/8 inch.
About
Originally released as part of the OurType Stencil Series in 2012, Puncho debuted alongside an exhibition on stencil letter history curated by Eric Kindel and Smeijers at Catapult gallery in Antwerp. Its unusual letterforms trace directly to Spencer's tiny punch-made stencils, where minimal size and industrial process dictated simple, sturdy shapes. Available in a single weight covering an extended Latin character set.
Classification
Puncho is a stencil display typeface derived from metal stencil letter punches, with letterforms shaped by the mechanical constraints of small-scale punch manufacture rather than conventional type design conventions.