Walbaum in Weimar

At the end of the 18th century, Weimar became a cultural center of Germany. It is known as the Golden Age of the city, when some of most renowned German poets and writers (like Goethe and Schiller) moved to Weimar. One of the most active publishers in Weimar was Friedrich Justin Bertuch. He heard of Walbaum’s good reputation asked him to move to Weimar.  This move took place in 1803. 

According to the preserved samples from that time, the type families Walbaum-Antiqua and Walbaum-Fraktur were likely started in Goslar and further extended in Weimar. Unfortunately, hardly any original type specimens from Justus Erich Walbaum have survived until today. The only known type specimens are in the German National Library in Leipzig. 

Type specimens from the Walbaum type foundry available at the German National Library in Leipzig

A script font from the Walbaum foundry