Blackletter Lyly 1 is a regular weight, narrow, high contrast, upright, normal x-height font.
Keywords: headlines, posters, logotypes, album art, packaging, medieval, gothic, solemn, ceremonial, dramatic, historical mood, authoritative tone, display impact, calligraphic feel, angular, calligraphic, blackletter, sharp, pointed.
A tightly set blackletter with sharp, angular construction and pronounced stroke modulation. Vertical stems dominate, with beveled terminals and faceted corners that suggest broad-nib calligraphy translated into crisp, geometric cuts. Curves are minimized or broken into angled segments, and counters tend to be compact, giving the letters a dense, vertical rhythm. Capitals are structured and architectural, while the lowercase retains traditional blackletter forms with pointed joins and narrow apertures; numerals follow the same chiseled logic with straight-backed shapes and clipped corners.
Best suited for display settings such as headlines, posters, titles, and branding marks where a historic or gothic atmosphere is desired. It works well for album covers, event materials, labels, and packaging that aim for a traditional, ceremonial, or medieval-inspired voice. For longer passages, larger sizes and comfortable tracking help maintain legibility.
The overall tone is historic and authoritative, evoking manuscripts, heraldry, and formal proclamations. Its dark texture and disciplined verticality feel stern and ceremonial, with a dramatic, old-world presence that reads as traditional and serious rather than casual.
The design appears intended to deliver a classic blackletter presence with crisp, faceted detailing and a strong vertical cadence. It prioritizes atmosphere and historical character while keeping outlines relatively clean and consistent for impactful display typography.
In text, the font produces a strong, continuous vertical pattern, where tight inner spaces and sharp joins create a distinctly “inked” color even at moderate sizes. The more intricate forms (especially in lowercase and round letters) benefit from generous size or spacing to preserve internal clarity.