Oldstyle is a category of serif typefaces that originated in the late 15th century and remained popular until the late 18th century. Characterized by its calligraphic influence, oldstyle typefaces feature curved strokes, angled stress, and moderate contrast between thick and thin lines. The letterforms often display a diagonal axis, mimicking the natural hand movements of a calligrapher using a quill or broad-nib pen. Lowercase letters typically have angled serifs, while uppercase letters have more subtle, bracketed serifs. Oldstyle typefaces are known for their readability and organic, humanistic appearance, making them well-suited for body text in print media. Notable examples of oldstyle typefaces include Garamond, Caslon, and Bembo. The development of oldstyle typefaces played a significant role in the early history of movable type and printing, setting the foundation for the evolution of typography in the centuries that followed.
serif typefaces, calligraphy, letterforms, readability, print media, typography
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