Often referred to as medieval or Old English, Blackletter is the first published serif font style. Blackletter typeface was used to print the Gutenberg Bible, the first mass publication in Europe. According to the N Walsh website, Blackletter fonts are characterized by dramatic variation between thinness and thickness of letters, sweeping capitals and diamond-shaped serifs. Some fonts belonging to the Blackletter family include Textualis, Franktur and Rotunda. Rotunda means "rounded R," and the font is characterized by its conjoined letters and uniquely-curved Rs. Letters were often abbreviated in medieval times to conserve writing space on expensive parchment. Blackletter is an ornate font family that makes excellent news headlines, poster titles and aesthetically pleasing letterheads.
Fonts within the Script family of typefaces replicate natural handwriting styles or calligraphic styles. Script is a variation of Roman typeface that is utilized mainly for its decorative implications. Because Script writing is hard to read as a body text, it is more frequently seen in fliers and posters as logo, header or decorative print. Common fonts of the Script family are Coronet, Zapfino, Mistral and Libra. Mistral typeface is highly representative of manuscript writing and was designed with that in mind. Roger Excoffon created the Mistral font in 1953 to emulate his own handwriting. According to the Abc Typography website, Excoffon wished to incorporate the free-hand element of writing into typographic lettering. The Libra font was designed for the Amsterdam type foundry in 1938. It imitates a common calligraphic lettering style that was used heavily in Europe.
Ornamental fonts are rarely used as body text. They are highly decorative and are sometimes referred to as novelty text. Each ornamental font is designed to fit a distinctive purpose or to convey a specific mood or theme. Simulation fonts are fonts that represent the Roman alphabet while replicating the look of a specific regional writing style. Arabic, Chinese, Greek, Indian and other foreign textual styles are replicated to lend aesthetic appeal. The Basque font, designed by Thierry Arsaut in 2000, was inspired by engravings of an ancient society, according to the Abc Typography website.