FF Sheriff is a sturdy, economical typeface with crisp shapes. Its low contrast and relatively large x-height enable it to function excellently in small to very small type sizes. Its unusual details also make it suitable for use as a display type. The face was designed by Peter Verheul, a type designer and typographer in The Hague. FF Sheriff is a somewhat stiff Egyptian, or slab serif face, which means it has heavy, rectangular serifs. This also explains the name: sheriff is simply a personal corruption of serif. Work on the typeface started in 1989 when it was still called Bullet, a year later the typeface was given its current name. FF Sheriff’s letterforms rely on two basic shapes: the oval and the rectangle.

Verheul’s typeface, while unconventional, proves its practical utility under the most extreme conditions. It was a deliberate choice not to call the italicized version of FF Sheriff italic, but Italian. The construction of the face actually determines whether it is a proper italic or not. This is the case when it is a continuous script with upstrokes. Oblique Roman types are often, but incorrectly called italic. In the way the curve emerges from the serif, the Italian version of FF Sheriff has the same characteristics as the Roman, which means it can never be a true italic.

FF Sheriff is a complete family suited to complex typographical jobs. Small caps are available in all weights.