Melior. Hermann Zapf, 1952. Stempel. Rational Serif.
Designer Hermann Zapf set out to create a typeface that was ideally suited to newspapers and other legibility applications. Melior is that typeface, released by the Stempel foundry in 1952.
Its straightforward but elegant design incorporates strong square serifs and condensed proportions based on the superellipse. Melior is excellent for newsletters and business applications, such as correspondence and annual reports.
Designed by Hermann Zapf in 1952 and originally released by
the Stempel foundry of Germany, Melior® is a text typeface that
distinguishes itself through its strong squared serifs.Melior History
Designer, Hermann Zapf, aimed to create a typeface that was suitable for use in newspaper columns or short publications. The Melior font family’s strong and sturdy letterforms give the typeface a formal look while aiding readability. The resulting design excels in text sizes and is an ideal choice for newspapers and
more formal documents.The characters feature a noticeable difference in stroke widths. This
contrast further enhances the design’s readability. Other
characteristics include heavy dropped serifs on the horizontal tails
characters like the uppercase Z and T. One quirk of this typeface is
that the uppercase “A” has no serif at the apex, unlike the M and N.
The uppercase Melior font family is fairly wide with Zapf basing his
open characters like the “O” on a squared-off ellipse. It is postulated
that Kapf took this idea about form from Piet Hein, a prominent
scientist, mathematician and poet from Denmark. Piet suggested that the
squared off ellipse – described mathematically as a super-ellipsoid –
might be the ideal shape for design applications and went about
promoting its qualities through his work.Melior Usage The Melior typeface is particularly suitable for newspaper columns and magazines. The uppercase of the Melior font family
works well in circumstances where a feeling of authority needs to be
conveyed.
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