“With regard to the Gothic minuscule character, the even perpendicularity of the broad, straight strokes gives at a glance the character distinguished as “black letter,” because it is relatively much heavier than the Roman minuscule. You have only to compare the two to see that the “black letter” is blacker.

The Germans marked this form of lettering for their own, and persevered in its use long after the rest of the world, in pursuance of the fashion of classicism prevailing in the 16th century, had abandoned it for the Roman style of lettering.

The mediaeval German version of black letter was stronger than that of other countries, the French more fanciful, the Italian more refined, more perfect, but perhaps never so Gothic.

The old “black letter” varied . . . much in character. The rounder form is freer, easier to write, more cursive. The more regular and straight-backed letter went rather out of fashion for a while; but it was revived by the printers, who saw in it what they could best imitate.”

—Lewis F. Day, from Alphabets Old & New, 1910. Ditto Lynne!