Craftique

Cushing Antique is a slab serif typeface released by the American Type Founders in 1902 and designed by Morris Fuller Benton.

It belongs to the early “Antique” or Egyptian style category, which in American type terminology refers to slab serifs with relatively sturdy, rectangular serifs and a strong, utilitarian structure. Cushing Antique was part of ATF’s broader effort at the time to systematize and modernize display type for advertising, offering a more refined and readable alternative to the heavier, sometimes awkward slab serifs of the 19th century. Compared to earlier antiques, it has more balanced proportions, more consistent stroke modulation, and a clearer rhythm in text settings, making it suitable for both headlines and more continuous display copy. It also reflects Benton’s larger project of creating cohesive type families that could serve commercial printing needs with both clarity and adaptability.