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With Point Systems
In other cases the bibliographer may only know the point size. Note, however, that typefoundries in different countries use different measurement systems for body sizes of type. In Anglo-American countries, the Pica Point System, originating in 1878, has been widely adopted since England led the way in 1898.[6] One Pica point is equal to .013888 of an inch. Earlier on the continent Simon P. Fournier (generally known as Fournier le jeune) advanced his "point" system in 1737 (see his Tables des Proportions qu'il faut observer entre les caracteres or Manuel Typographique, 1764); Updike reprints the 1742 table between pages 28 and 29 in volume one of his Printing Types. Many consider Fournier's system, in which a point equals .013728 of an inch, "the first successful attempt at a mathematical systematization of type-bodies."[7] The other system advocated by Françoise Ambroise Didot is widely employed on the Continent today. Based on the pied du roi—12 French or 12.7892 Anglo-American inches—one Didot point is equal to .01483 of an inch.
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