old style type

Also known as: old face type

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Last updated

July 1, 2026

Quick Summary

"Old style" can refer to two distinct concepts: a historical method of timekeeping and a specific style of typeface.

Old Style Typeface

In typography, old style refers to a typeface characterized by graceful irregularity, bracketed serifs, and minimal contrast between thick and thin strokes. These fonts, developed around the 18th century, were influenced by handwritten scripts. Notable examples include typefaces by William Caslon and John Baskerville. This style contrasts with later "modern" typefaces that feature sharper serifs and greater stroke contrast.1234

Old Style Calendar

Historically, "Old Style" also denotes the Julian calendar, which was used before the adoption of the Gregorian calendar.1

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typography
Aesthetic qualities of the typographic page
…face—though Americans sometimes call it old style. In general, old faces were largely those types developed from c. 1722 to c. 1763 (dates of William Caslon and John Baskerville). Their letter forms had marked affinities with the penned letter styles of the scribes: they tended to squareness, there was little…
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…face—though Americans sometimes call it old style. In general, old faces were largely those types developed from c. 1722 to c. 1763 (dates of William Caslon and John Baskerville). Their letter forms had marked affinities with the penned letter styles of the scribes: they tended to squareness, there was little…
Read More