Arthur Baker’s display script Sassafras, designed for URW in 1995, is based on the natural inline effect created when writing with a split-metal nibbed pen.

Black and white are nicely balanced, giving this calligraphic face a remarkably smooth appearance. The regular and italic versions of Sassafras include two alternate faces: one with long, tall ascenders and regular-length descenders, and one with shortened ascenders and descenders that allow it to fit where its companion might not. In both, the ascenders increase in width as they move upward, while the descenders taper to a fine point.

This variety of form makes Sassafras a very flexible choice for display work.