Lettern

Lettern is a term used in typography and printing to describe the individual letterforms that make up a typeface in movable-type systems. In German usage, Lettern traditionally refer to the physical pieces—metal or wood—each representing a character, as opposed to the abstract concept of a letter in writing. In English discussions, these pieces are often described as sorts or types.

Historically, Lettern were cast in matching matrices and stored in cases by character for quick access. A complete set included uppercase and lowercase letters, numerals, punctuation, ligatures, and sometimes ornaments. Printers arranged Lettern on a composing stick to form lines of type, then locked them into a chase and inked them for impression on paper.

With the advent of metal type, hot metal typesetting, phototypesetting, and eventually digital typography, the practical use of Lettern diminished. By the late 20th century, most printing houses had converted to digital fonts, though the physical Lettern remain of interest to historians, letterpress enthusiasts, and educational programs that teach traditional printing techniques.

Today, the term Lettern is mainly used in historical or technical contexts. It underscores the physicality of traditional typography, where each character was a discrete component of a composing system, differing from the modern abstract concept of a font. In German, the word for letters in general is Buchstaben, while Lettern survives as a niche term within the printing trades.