Left or Right, This Typeface Has You Covered!

Remember the ambigrams we posted a few months ago? This typeface is a turn of the century version! Designed to be able to be read from left to right, and right to left, this typeface was patented in 1909 by Scott Perky. The symmetry is achieved with a deceptively simple trick: each character has a vertical line of symmetry, allowing it to be read equally well from either direction. Mr. Perky had big plans for this typeface, like being able to read a document in zig-zagging lines to save time, but unfortunately, the fact that everyone knew how to read in the usual way won out, and this type never took off. While it may not have reached any levels of success, we love to see innovative thinking like this. It’s a great reminder to think outside the box when designing!