Bembo Book

Designer: (Aldus Manutius, Francesco Griffo) Monotype staff // Foundry: Monotype

Country of origin: (Italy) United Kingdom // Release year: (1495) 2005 // Classification: Venetian Humanist Serif

Bembo is the most popular of the Renaissance serifs, frequently called upon for setting elegant book text ever since it was cut by Monotype in 1929. The digital version, however, is a feeble shadow of the metal type. Like so many of the revivals that appeared in desktop publishing’s early years, Bembo is far too delicate for modern printing, and certainly for the screen. Monotype went back to the digital drawing board for Bembo Book, which retains the proper weight of the original. It also offers a very welcome alternative “R” with a leg that doesn’t stretch so far, thereby not creating gaps or tripping its neighbors. Good for: Long text on good, soft paper. Historical novels.