Baker Font: Russell Maret’s Roman Inscription in Metal Type

In his May 2016 studio announcement, Russell Maret presents Baker as a new metal typeface based on the inscription on the tomb of the Roman contract baker M. Vergilius Eurysaces. Ed Rayher engraved the matrices at Swamp Press & Letterfoundry. Maret describes revising the short T, S and Z after the first trial casting: a useful example of proofing a new design rather than treating the first production sample as final. This Baker is separate from Baker Signet and does not identify a skateboard-brand logo.

Swamp Press’s 2023 catalog, printed page 4, documents Baker at 24 point, with tall I and T on 30-point bodies and extra kerned characters. These are physical type specifications, not an instruction to apply a 30-point digital style to selected letters. Before planning a hand-set title, list the actual characters and repeated letters needed, then ask the foundry about the available sorts and their fit. A historical catalog entry does not guarantee present stock or supply a desktop font file.

Make a working sheet for ART & TYPE with the short and tall capital choices recorded separately. Mark where the title needs space beside a projecting letter, then compare the complete line rather than judging each capital alone. Retain a proof and a revision note for any change; Maret’s account makes that iterative stage visible. For a digital study, use your own clearly labeled drawing or an independently named comparison instead of pretending to preview the original metal type here. The homepage’s copyable Unicode forms change characters; they do not transfer Baker’s matrices, cast sorts or a reproduction of its inscription-derived alphabet.