Serif Humanist Obto 17 is a regular weight, normal width, high contrast, upright, normal x-height font.
Keywords: book titles, packaging, posters, headlines, invitations, medieval, storybook, hand-hewn, historic, ornamental, historic flavor, handmade texture, decorative text, dramatic headings, period styling, wedge serifs, flared strokes, faceted forms, angular curves, sharp terminals.
This serif design shows faceted, slightly irregular letterforms with chiseled-looking curves and wedge-like serifs. Strokes taper and flare with noticeable contrast, and many bowls and rounds are built from angular segments rather than smooth ovals, giving the face a carved, polygonal feel. Serifs are sharp and often triangular, with crisp entry and exit strokes that mimic pen or knife cuts. Spacing and widths vary across letters, creating a lively rhythm in text while remaining consistently upright and legible.
It performs best in display settings where its angular detailing and wedge serifs can be appreciated—book and chapter titles, posters, themed packaging, menus, and event invitations. In longer passages it remains readable, but the textured rhythm and sharp terminals are most effective at moderate sizes and above, especially for editorial heads or pull quotes.
The overall tone is historic and theatrical, evoking manuscript lettering, carved inscriptions, and folklore aesthetics. Its sharp terminals and hand-wrought texture give it a dramatic, slightly gothic flavor without becoming overly dense or dark. The irregular, cut-paper energy reads as crafted and expressive rather than mechanical.
The design appears intended to translate calligraphic and carved-letter cues into a consistent serif text and display face, prioritizing character and historic atmosphere. Its faceted construction and tapered strokes suggest an aim for a hand-made, story-driven look that still supports continuous reading.
Uppercase forms lean toward display proportions with strong silhouette variety, while the lowercase maintains a readable cadence in the sample paragraph. Numerals share the same faceted construction and pointed terminals, matching the letterforms for cohesive titling and short informational use.