Windsor can be tough to identify in the wild. It’s often mistaken for its good-for-nothing, hard-partying half-brother, Cooper Black. There’s a few letters you can look to, though, in order to make a positive identification. The key to Windsor — and the thing that makes it such a gorgeous typeface — are the diagonals.
The capital W and M, for example, both have splayed legs. Most serif typefaces could fit the capital M into a box, but not Windsor. The legs are almost at a 45 degree angle.
The capital K is also very distinctive. Notice the way the upper right arm is quite a bit higher than in most typefaces.
Capital P and R both have much larger-than-average upper bowls.
The lowercase a is the most distinctive letter in the Windsor alphabet. The right stem is a beautiful diagonal stroke, almost like a tilde resting to the left at a 45 degree angle.
The lowercase e also has a diagonal cross-stroke.
Lowercase h, m and n are also very distinctive. The right leg is splayed out, as well, also at a diagonal.
Print out the above letters, and keep them in your pocket, so the next time you’re out and see a truck or billboard or macrobiotic food outlet, you can say with confidence, yes, it’s Windsor!
