Caslon: One Typeface to Rule Them All


Caslon, Big Caslon, or Adobe Caslon Pro is a typeface that has stood the test of time and still has a place in modern print design. Caslon is an Old Style serif typeface originally designed by William Caslon in 1722. He created the first English typeface in a period that was dominated by Dutch foundries.

Caslon has short ascenders and descenders, bracketed serifs and sharp contrast. This is what gives it the Old Style characteristics. However, Caslon is one of the last evolutions of Old Style and, therefore, also bears some similarities to Transitional typefaces such as Baskerville, which was created years later in 1757. Foundries around the globe offer variants of the Caslon, and in its prime, the phrase

“When in doubt, use Caslon”

became popular among printers. Notable historical figures such as Benjamin Franklin swore by the Caslon typeface, and used it in his personal print shop.

Caslon has a large amount of U.S. history attached to it despite being from a British foundry. Due to its popularity, Caslon was used in the printing of the Declaration of Independence. Mr. John Dunlop printed 200 copies, now referred to as “The Dunlop Broadside,” using Caslon, and later the next batch was called the “The Goddard Broadside,” which contains the list of all signers that was missing in the original print. It’s weird to think that our declaration of freedom was printed with a British typeface.

Excellent readability, graceful curves and lines that change with weight are the hallmarks of any Caslon font. The critical part of that is the ease of reading for viewers. The open look to Caslon allows for a decreased leading without sacrificing the readability of the body copy. Also, Caslon conveys more warmth than the sharp geometry of modern typefaces. Caslon’s sturdy serifs exude solidity to its viewers. Its stroke variation is prominent, its serifs display graceful bracketing, its lowercase characters have wedge-shaped top serifs and the uppercase ‘A’ has a distinctive curve at the apex. With that said, Caslon is a well-rounded typeface that will shine wherever you put it. However, it truly excels in books and documents that require large quantities of body copy.

In my own experience, Caslon, or Adobe Caslon Pro, is among the most legible, professional typefaces that I’ve come across. It pairs well with many other typefaces such as Futura, Proxima Nova, Sofia and Clarendon. I prefer to use it in body copy because it’s a typeface that still holds a certain old-world charm that calls to more refined times.


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