Calligraphic Ohbal 1 is a very light, narrow, medium contrast, upright, short x-height font.
Keywords: invitations, poetry, editorial, book titles, packaging, elegant, airy, refined, bookish, poetic, formal elegance, calligraphic feel, literary tone, delicate display, refined text, delicate, calligraphic, high-waisted, flared terminals, open counters.
A delicate, lightly drawn text face with a calligraphic skeleton and gently modulated strokes. Forms are narrow and vertically oriented, with small-to-moderate contrast and subtle flare at stroke ends that suggests a pointed-pen influence without explicit joins. Curves are smooth and open (notably in C, O, and G), while verticals stay slender and steady. Lowercase shows a short x-height with tall ascenders/descenders, creating a high-waisted rhythm; the g is double-storey and the e has a graceful, slightly looped bowl. Numerals are similarly light and rounded, with simple, classical proportions and clear differentiation.
Works well for invitations, announcements, and other formal stationery where a refined, handwritten impression is desired. It can also serve in editorial settings for pull quotes, chapter openers, and book or album titles, and for premium packaging where subtle elegance is the goal. Best used at moderate sizes or with ample leading to preserve its fine hairline detail.
The overall tone is formal yet intimate—more personal than a conventional book serif, but still composed and literary. Its light touch and narrow stance give it a quiet sophistication suited to understated, cultured settings rather than loud display.
Likely designed to bridge calligraphy and text typography: conveying a composed, pen-influenced elegance while remaining readable in phrases and short passages. The narrow proportions and tall extenders appear intended to create a graceful vertical cadence and a classical, literary feel.
Spacing feels intentionally generous for such thin strokes, helping counters remain clear in running text. Several letters exhibit gentle idiosyncrasies—small hooks, tapered terminals, and slightly varying stroke endings—that reinforce a hand-drawn, written quality while keeping a consistent typographic rhythm.