Berthold City Light Italic

Berthold City Light Italic was designed by the prolific German graphic designer Georg Trump in 1930. Released through the H. Berthold AG type foundry, the City typeface family is a distinct slab serif (Egyptian) design characterized by its rigid, geometric construction. Unlike traditional slab serifs that often feature rounded curves, City utilizes rectangular shapes and hard angles, giving it a modern, industrial, and almost architectural appearance that was highly innovative for its time.

The Light Italic variant offers a more refined and dynamic take on the sturdy original design. While maintaining the signature blocky slab serifs and geometric structure, the italicization adds a sense of movement and elegance without sacrificing its mechanical precision. Over the decades, City has become an iconic typeface in corporate branding, most famously influencing the IBM logo designed by Paul Rand. It remains a popular choice for designers seeking a font that conveys strength, reliability, and a mid-century modernist aesthetic.