A traditional name for a large display size of cast metal type. In the American point system, it measures exactly 24 points, which is twice the height of standard 12-point pica. British founders historically cast it slightly smaller at 22 points. It was a standard choice for chapter headings and small posters before numerical point sizes became universal.
Heard on the job
Pull the double pica from the upper case for the main chapter titles, and leave the body copy in standard pica.
Also heard as
- two-line pica
Do not mix it up with
- Pica: Pica is the standard 12-point body text size, whereas double pica is a 24-point display size.