Serif Normal Guben 4 is a regular weight, normal width, medium contrast, italic, normal x-height font.
Keywords: books, magazines, editorial, quotations, invitations, classic, literary, refined, traditional, text italic, classic emphasis, editorial tone, calligraphic feel, bracketed serifs, calligraphic, oblique stress, oldstyle figures, flared terminals.
A slanted serif with moderate stroke contrast and a smooth, calligraphic flow. Serifs are bracketed and gently tapered, with subtly flared terminals that keep the texture lively rather than rigid. The italic construction shows an oblique stress and rounded joins, producing soft, continuous curves in letters like C, G, O, and S. Proportions are fairly traditional with a steady x-height, and the lowercase features compact bowls and angled entry/exit strokes that create a consistent rightward rhythm. Numerals appear oldstyle (text) figures, varying in height and aligning naturally with the lowercase rather than sitting uniformly on the cap line.
Well-suited for editorial typography such as book interiors, magazine features, and refined long-form settings where an italic voice is needed for emphasis or titles. It also works effectively for quotations, pull quotes, and short-form formal materials like invitations or programs where a classic, polished italic texture is desirable.
The overall tone feels bookish and cultivated, with a humanist warmth typical of literary italics. Its slant and tapered details convey elegance and motion, suggesting a formal but approachable voice suited to narrative or editorial contexts.
Likely designed as a conventional text serif italic that prioritizes readability while adding a graceful, handwritten-derived rhythm. The intent appears to balance tradition and clarity, delivering an italic that can function both as emphasis within text and as a tasteful display accent at larger sizes.
In the sample text, the face maintains an even typographic color at larger sizes while retaining crisp, expressive details in curves and terminals. The ampersand and punctuation adopt the same calligraphic logic, reinforcing a cohesive italic character.