Type faces — like people’s faces — have distinctive features indicating aspects of character beyond just strength and delicacy. Some features are quite pronounced, some are very subtle and more subject to personal interpretation. Here are some text faces with capsule character analyses:
Baskerville — Classical and elegant
Jason — Round and warm
Granjon — Round, warm and graceful
Caledonia — Clean, firm, business-like
Times Roman — Stiff, cold, formal
Electra — Light, cool, efficient
Fairfield — Fussy
Bodoni — Dramatic
Waverley — Round and cool
In choosing type, it’s better to consider these characteristics than to follow historical or conventional rules. It’s the type’s character, not its history, that affects the reader.