Blackletter Jela 17 is a regular weight, very narrow, medium contrast, upright, normal x-height font.
Keywords: mastheads, posters, album covers, packaging, certificates, gothic, medieval, heraldic, solemn, authoritative, heritage tone, dramatic display, period evocation, formal branding, angular, chiselled, pointed, ornate, calligraphic.
A sharp, angular blackletter with tall proportions and a tight horizontal footprint. Strokes are built from faceted, wedge-like terminals and broken curves, creating a rhythmic texture of verticals with controlled, modest contrast. Capitals are elaborate but disciplined, with spurred corners and occasional interior counters that read as carved forms rather than smooth bowls. Lowercase maintains a consistent, upright ductus with narrow arches and pointed joins, and the numerals echo the same cut, Gothic construction for a unified set.
Best suited to display work where a historic or formal atmosphere is desired—such as mastheads, event posters, album artwork, labels, and certificate-style pieces. It also works well for short headings, drop caps, and logotype treatments where the distinctive blackletter texture is intended to be a primary visual element.
The overall tone is historic and ceremonial, evoking manuscripts, heraldry, and traditional signage. Its pointed construction and dense vertical rhythm give it a serious, authoritative voice with a dramatic, old-world presence.
The design appears intended to deliver a classic Gothic manuscript feel with a compact, upright structure and crisp, chiseled detailing. It prioritizes dramatic texture and period character in headings and showcased phrases rather than neutral, everyday readability.
In text, the compact letterfit produces a dark, continuous color and emphasizes word shapes through strong vertical cadence. The crisp corners and narrow counters can intensify at smaller sizes, while larger settings highlight the crafted, blade-cut detailing in the terminals and joins.