When and how was the san serif fonts invented and developed?

Question:

When and how was the san serif fonts invented and developed?

Best Answer - Chosen by Asker:

William Caslon IV, the English typefounder, introduced the first sans serif typestyle, Egyptian, in an 1816 specimen book.

* Sans serif did not become widely used until after World War II.
the Swiss Bauhaus school of designers got a hold of them in the late 19th and early 20th centuries ("Helvetica" is the Latin word for Switzerland), idolizing their purity and directness.

* Strokes are uniform in most san serif styles, with little or no contrast between the thick and thin strokes.
*Emphasis is almost always vertical.
*Most are geometric in their construction; some combine both organic and geometric qualities.
*Also Known As: grotesque, gothic

Examples: Arial, Helvetica, Frutiger, Futura, Trade Gothic

Description of the Change in Punch Magazine
http://www.shinntype.com/assets/depts/es...

William Caslon
http://www.myfonts.com/person/caslon-iv/...

Design Tips
http://www.ruddle.com/design_type.html...