It’s ridiculous to think of historical fonts as past relics, they’re as relevant now as they ever will be, informing how we all perceive and interact with contemporary design and typography. And clearly, they’re more inspiring than they’ve ever been, often acting as the blueprints for their contemporary counterparts – offering depth, character, and a sense of place and time.

Here are a few historically-inspired fonts (available today) that can add a little extra depth to whatever you’re designing.

PP Neue Montreal

Some fonts feel inevitable, like they’ve always been there, waiting to be used. Neue Montreal is one of those. An undefeatable grotesque sans with just the right balance of warmth and functionality, it explores the typographic heritage of Montreal’s Expo 67 while fitting seamlessly into contemporary design systems.

With its tight kerning and a versatile range of 14 styles (including italics and Cyrillic support), Neue Montreal has already made its mark on Montreal’s design scene – most notably in the rebranding of the city’s football club, Montreal FC. It’s a friendly reminder that good design, like a well-planned city expo, perhaps, is both timeless and ever-adaptable

PP Editorial New

There’s a reason why certain typographic aesthetics persist: precision, elegance, and just the right amount of personality. Editorial New distils these qualities into a narrow serif designed for long-form text with a strong editorial presence. Channelling the high-contrast elegance of mid-90s print design, it transitions effortlessly between delicate, refined light weights and the bolder, more pronounced curves of its heavier styles.

PP Hatton

Some fonts carry the weight of a place within their letterforms (and potentially their mixed illustrious and suspicious legacies). Hatton is one such typeface. A homage to London’s historic Hatton Garden district, the centre of the UK’s diamond trade (and infamous heist), the high-contrast serif with a touch of hand-rendered charm captures the spirit of the signage and shop fronts that have long defined this iconic area.

Meticulously updated with newly crafted true italics and refined proportions, Hatton brings a dignified yet contemporary elegance to both the editorial and branding space, offering a typographic heirloom that feels as relevant today as the shiny treasures it pays tribute to.

PP Editorial Old

Aged to perfection, some say. Editorial Old is what happens when a refined, contemporary serif like Editorial New gets a little looser and a little more worn-in. Inspired by vintage ads from the ‘70s and ‘80s, it softens the precise curves and tight connections of its predecessor, introducing relaxed ligatures and subtly eroded details. The result is a typeface that feels effortlessly nostalgic without being stuck in the past.

PP Lettra Mono

There’s a certain beauty in constraint. Lettra, a monospaced serif, embraces the rigid structure of typewriter fonts while weaving in the fine details of botanical illustrations. With its diamond-shaped terminals and strong vertical contrast, Lettra is both precise and expressive – a balance rarely found in monospace fonts.

The typeface also includes an experimental character set featuring playful ligatures and an unusual double-width ‘Oo,’ making it as much a playground for typographers and designers as it is a workhorse for structured design. Lettra proves that limitations breed creativity.

PP Nikkei

Typography can be a vessel for storytelling, and PP Nikkei is a prime example. This type system pays tribute to the history of Japanese immigration to America, weaving together influences from hand-lettered ship signage, Nikkei community newspapers, and traditional Japanese family crests.

Across its four subfamilies and 18 styles, Nikkei offers a wealth of stylistic alternatives, making it a versatile choice for, well, anything really. With its thoughtful historical references and contemporary execution, Nikkei demonstrates how a typeface can be both a functional object and a narrative one.


All these fonts are free to try today!