oldstyle

Oldstyle, in typography, refers to a broad class of serif typefaces that originated in the Renaissance and are characterized by calligraphic influence, moderate contrast in stroke width, bracketed serifs, and a diagonal stress. Also known as humanist or Venetian, oldstyle fonts were developed from about the late 15th century onward, drawing on the forms of Italian and French handwriting of the period.

Key features of oldstyle type include a relatively low to moderate x-height, long ascenders, bracketed serifs, and a slight backward slant in the letter shapes. The stroke contrast is gentle compared with later serif classifications, and the italic forms typically retain a close kinship to the upright text, echoing the handwriting origins of the design. These characteristics contribute to a warm, readable texture in body text.

Historically, the style began with early Venetian punchcutters such as Nicolas Jenson and was refined by French and Italian printers, including Claude Garamond and the Aldine team. In the 18th century, Caslon became a defining English example, while Bembo and Palatino represent later revivals that preserve the oldstyle aesthetic. In classification schemes, oldstyle is often grouped with other humanist or Garalde fonts, and it sits alongside transitions and moderns as a distinct historical branch of serif typography.

In modern use, oldstyle typefaces are favored for long-form reading and printed materials because of their legibility and classic character. The term also extends to oldstyle figures, or text figures, a numeral style where digits have varying heights and alignments to blend with lowercase text, as opposed to lining figures. Notable examples of oldstyle type found in digital form include Garamond, Caslon, Bembo, and Palatino.