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Bulmer MT

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description Bulmer MT Overview

Bulmer MT is a digital serif typeface family based on the late 18th-century designs of William Martin, originally cut for William Bulmer's Shakespeare Press in London around 1790. The Monotype Corporation created this revival for modern typesetting, adapting its sharp, high-contrast strokes and elegant roman proportions. It remains a classic example of the transitional serif style, frequently utilized in book typography and formal publishing to convey traditional literary aesthetics.

help Bulmer MT FAQ

Who designed the original Bulmer typeface?

William Martin cut the original type around 1790 for William Bulmer's Shakespeare Press in London. The type was used for major Shakespeare editions, and the name Bulmer refers to the printer rather than the original punchcutter.

What style of serif is Bulmer MT?

Bulmer MT is a transitional serif with strong thick-thin contrast, sharp serifs, and a formal bookish texture. It sits historically between old-style faces such as Caslon and later high-contrast display serifs.

How is Bulmer MT different from Baskerville?

Both belong to the transitional serif tradition, but Bulmer's letterforms have a distinctive sharpness and stronger display character tied to William Martin's late eighteenth-century cuts. Baskerville is associated with John Baskerville's own printing office and has a different historical source.

Is Bulmer MT a digital version of William Martin's original metal type?

Bulmer MT is a modern Monotype revival adapted for digital typesetting rather than the original 1790 metal fonts. The Monotype version is associated with a twentieth-century revival supervised by Morris Fuller Benton and adjusted for contemporary composition. [Bulmer typeface history](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bulmer_%28typeface%29)

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