Bembo vs Garamond

Garamond was influenced by Bembo — drew on the Aldine model.

Type specimen — Bembo (Old-style serif); shown in EB Garamond, a close match (OFL)

Bembo

The refined Aldine old-style cut by Francesco Griffo for Aldus Manutius in 1495 — lighter and more even than Jenson, and the direct ancestor of the entire Garalde line. Monotype's 1929 revival made it a modern book classic.

  • Moderate contrast, inclined (oblique) stress
  • Crisp, bracketed serifs lighter than Jenson's
  • Small x-height with long, elegant ascenders
  • Slightly slanted serifs on the ascenders
  • Even, harmonious, bright text color
Full Bembo guide →
Type specimen — Garamond (Old-style serif); set in EB Garamond (OFL)

Garamond

Claude Garamond's sixteenth-century French old-style — the most refined Garalde of all and arguably the most enduring book type in the Latin alphabet. Pen-warm, even-colored, and effortlessly readable.

  • Moderate, gently modulated stroke contrast
  • Inclined (oblique) axis of stress
  • Elegantly bracketed serifs, slanted on the ascenders
  • Small x-height with graceful, long ascenders
  • Small eye in the lowercase 'e', open apertures
Full Garamond guide →

At a glance

BemboGaramond
Era14951530s–1540s
DisciplineTypographyTypography
RegionVenice, ItalyFrance, Paris
FamilySerifSerif
Formal traitsold-style, bracketed-serif, oblique-stress, moderate-contrastold-style, bracketed-serif, oblique-stress, moderate-contrast

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