Chinese Typeface

• it was by Cleveland Type Foundry, 1883
• originated in the 19th century with an unmistakably Asian name 
• in the mid 50's, it was known as Mandarin 
• later the fonts was lead to what know as "Choy Suey" type 
• interestingly, both chop suey and the typeface is an American invention, neither the food nor the fonts have any relation to true Chinese cuisine or calligraphy 
• the tyepface "Mandarin" was used by Beggarstaff Brothers (William Nicholson and James Pryde) for their 1899 poster "A trip to China Town."
• the poster was included in an influential monthly publication 
• the lettering had become synonymous with San Francisco's Chinatown 
• often see the typeface in neon signage 
• right now, the Choy suey letters appear more rounder and blunter than later alterations of the style with less overlap among the strokes
• it was often Chinese - American restaurateurs who were choosing the chop suey lettering