DaFontFonts

Caslon Font

The English old-style serif: when in doubt, use Caslon

William Caslon (1720s); Adobe Caslon by Carol Twombly · Old-style serif · 1722 · × Paid cuts, free revivals available

Download Free Alternative

Libre Caslon Text · closest free match to Caslon

Caslon font poster: classic Caslon headline on aged parchment with a quillCaslon style serif on an antique broadside poster and a vintage book spineCaslon style character set: uppercase and lowercase alphabet, numbers and symbols

Illustrations of the Caslon style made for DaFontFonts. Letterforms are approximate; check the official specimen before you buy.

Download Caslon

License:
Paid cuts, free revivals available
Font Type:
Paid
Download:
Free alternative: Libre Caslon Text (OFL-1.1)
Format:
TTF
Total Files:
4 styles + licence
Download Free Alternative

Caslon itself is not free to download. This button gives you Libre Caslon Text, the closest free match, licensed for commercial use. Adobe Caslon on Adobe Fonts

About Caslon

William Caslon cut his first roman types in London in the 1720s, and they quickly became the standard for English printing. They are sturdy, slightly irregular and warm, with bracketed serifs and moderate contrast. Printers trusted them so much that the saying went, when in doubt, use Caslon. Caslon types also travelled to the American colonies and are tied to early American printing.

Many revivals followed. The best-known digital version is Adobe Caslon, drawn by Carol Twombly in 1990 from Caslon's original specimens. Caslon still looks at home in books, literary magazines, heritage branding and anything that should feel classic and trustworthy.

Where Caslon works best

  • Books and literary publishing
  • Heritage and historical branding
  • Magazines and long-form articles
  • Formal invitations

Free alternatives to Caslon

Open-licence fonts with a comparable feel, every one verified free for commercial use and downloadable from DaFontFonts.

The quick brown fox jumps over the lazy dog
Libre Caslon Text Serif · 4 styles ✓ OFL

Libre Caslon Text is a free Caslon revival tuned for body copy on screens, with sturdier strokes than print-era cuts. It keeps Caslon's warm, slightly irregular old-style texture where it matters most, in paragraphs.

The quick brown fox jumps over the lazy dog
Libre Caslon Display Serif · 1 style ✓ OFL

Libre Caslon Display pairs with the text cut for large sizes, with higher contrast and finer details in the manner of Caslon display sorts. Use it for headings above Libre Caslon Text the way Adobe Caslon's optical sizes were intended.

The quick brown fox jumps over the lazy dog
EB Garamond Serif · 10 styles · variable ✓ OFL

EB Garamond is a French old-style rather than an English one, but it shares the low x-height, bracketed serifs, and calm book-page color that make Caslon comfortable to read. It is lighter and more delicate on the page.

The quick brown fox jumps over the lazy dog
Sorts Mill Goudy Serif · 2 styles ✓ OFL

Sorts Mill Goudy revives Goudy Oldstyle, an American old-style with the same warm, slightly rustic charm Caslon carries. Its details are rounder and its italic more calligraphic.

The quick brown fox jumps over the lazy dog
Crimson Pro Serif · 16 styles · variable ✓ OFL

Crimson Pro is an old-style text serif with a full weight range and screen-friendly sturdiness that can stand in for Adobe Caslon in long-form settings. It is more regularized, losing some of Caslon's handmade unevenness.

Compare all Caslon alternatives

Caslon is a trademark of its owner. DaFontFonts does not host or distribute the Caslon font files; download and licence links go to the official source.

Questions

Is Caslon font free?

The original designs are old, but refined digital cuts like Adobe Caslon are paid or come with Adobe Fonts. Libre Caslon Text and Libre Caslon Display are free revivals you can use anywhere.

Who designed Caslon?

William Caslon, an English typefounder, cut the original types in the 1720s. Adobe Caslon was drawn by Carol Twombly in 1990.

What is the best free Caslon?

Libre Caslon Text is the closest free option for body text, and Libre Caslon Display is designed for large headlines.

Why is Caslon so popular?

It is sturdy, readable and has a warm, classic character, so it suits books and heritage brands. It has been a printer's favourite for nearly three centuries.

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