The Secret History of the Manicule, the Little Hand That's Everywhere
a year ago
- #history
- #typography
- #design
- The typographic symbol known as the manicule is a pointing hand used to draw attention to text.
- Manicules date back to the Middle Ages, with early examples found in the Domesday Book of 1086.
- Medieval readers used manicules as personalized highlights, with some becoming elaborate mini-artworks.
- The invention of the printing press in the 15th century led to manicules being cast in metal type.
- Manicules evolved from reader annotations to premeditated pointers printed by authors and publishers.
- By the 1800s, manicules were widely used in advertising, posters, and signs, including on a wanted poster for John Wilkes Booth.
- The manicule's overuse in the late 19th century led to its decline, replaced by simpler arrows.
- The symbol saw a resurgence in the digital age, becoming the cursor for hyperlinks and appearing in emoji sets.
- Today, manicules are used in vintage-style signage and design, evoking nostalgia and retro flair.
- The manicule's enduring appeal lies in its universal gesture of pointing out something worth noticing.