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This is a post about ampersands. I’ve always loved ampersands. I can remember being a little kid and trying in vain to incorporate them into my writing. I love how so many variations of the symbol can be completely nonsensical out of context, but when placed within type, we read it as “and” without even thinking.

Does this Cochin Italic ampersand look like a Chinese water color of a ripe gourd to anyone else? Kinda? Just a little?

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The origin of the ampersand comes from a ligature of “et,” the Latin word for “and.” I could go into more detail, but I think this Wiki article pretty much sums it up.

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In my limited design experience thus far, I think my favorite ampersand I’ve come across is the Caslon Italic:

Such grace and dignity.

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I’ve even discovered an entire blog dedicated to this character. How cool is that?

–Claude