Looking into the current version of doc/latex/base/fntguide.pdf in TeXLive, I see for example this: \DeclareFontShape{OT1}{cmr}{m}{sl}{% <<5-8>> sub * cmr/m/n <<8>> cmsl8 <<9>> cmsl9 <<10>> <<10.95>> cmsl10 <<12>> <<14.4>> <<17.28>> <<20.74>> <<24.88>> cmsl12 }{} Note the doubled `<<' and `>>'! This must be wrong... Werner