Store Norske Litteratur - Old-style serif inspired by Norway's literary golden age, reviving historical warmth for modern editorial use.

About

Store Norske Litteratur began by examining anthologies from Norway’s golden age of literature. During this period, Norway produced many leading authors, including Henrik Ibsen, Bjørnstjerne Bjørnson, Knut Hamsun, and Sigrid Undset, several of whom received the Nobel Prize in Literature. These anthologies often featured sturdy old-style serifs, characteristic of the typographic trends of the time. Common examples included Nordisk Antikva (1907–1910) by Friedrich Bauer (with Swedish printer Waldemar Zachrisson) and Plantin (1913) by Frank Hinman Pierpont. While these typefaces were primarily intended for body text, their visual qualities also appealed to advertisers, offering a warm and inviting atmosphere. Litteratur aims to revive this atmosphere, offering a crisp modern take on the old-style serif. This brings historical warmth to contemporary text, making layouts feel both familiar and fresh. Its large x-height and short ascenders and descenders fit more text in tight spaces and improve comfort in dense layouts. The clear letterforms enhance legibility on screen and in print, supporting various output formats. Litteratur’s special ligatures enhance rhythm in Nordic languages and improve general readability. It offers both a standard and a heavier low-contrast text version, making the typeface versatile for different reading conditions.

This is the regular version of the typeface; see SN Litteratur Text for a less contrasted version.

The Store Norske Litteratur Typeface font is designed by Arve Båtevik

Store Norske Litteratur is designed by Arve Båtevik.