Another small collector insight – but this time an Atlantis insight. Somewhere betweeen 1989 and 1990 the Atlantis logotype changed for the third time – but first a history lesson.
Atlantis Logotype: First Phase
The first original logo was the name Atlantis in a rectangle with lines going out and connecting with the framing of the cover. Clean and nice and coming in different variations of colour.
Product management decided to develop the graphical profile. Even though very slight movements were done, the rounded corners did some big difference to the graphical profile – in my opinion I prefered the first version as I believe it looks much more clean.
Atlantis Logotype: Second Phase
If product management did a new hire or if they asked their clients about the previous change is unclear.
It looks like someone is thinking like me and the decision is taken to go back to the rectangle with no rounded corners.
We can spot three other major changes, the font- type for the Atlantis name is changed, the lines coming out of the logo to frame the cover has been removed.
Thirdly the price tag is designed to be close to the logo.
The final step, the logo has a total re-design and becomes a badge with a logo in it. In my opinion more connected to the association you get with the meaning of the name, water.
They kept the price tag but decided to move the placement of it. By this leaving some space between the logo and the price tag.
How does this affect our collections?
The only way it affects us is that we need to be observant on the part of the Atlantis logotype, there might be some deviances out there. It can even be some rare items to collect based on their few in number. We have noticed one title, Superkid for ZX Sinclair Spectrum that has a version with each of the two latest logos.
An interesting fact is that the price tag on the 1989 version is black on my copy. My first thought was that someone had painted on it to cover the price.
By my researching I can now confirm this. The reason for this is that the price in 1989 was £1.99 and increased to £2,99 in 1990.
A fair conclusion is that when they got the new version out on the market all old reamining versions in stock were black marked.
This to be able to sell them to the new increased price.
History is what we write through our acts.