Garamond
Claude Garamond, a French type founder, typographer and punchcutter created the Renaissance Antiqua named for him around 1530. His Antiqua and cursive forms are based on the typefaces previously created by Francesco Griffo for the Venetian publisher and printer Aldus Manutius as well as the alphabets of Ludovico Vincentino degli Arrighi.
Garamond has a lighter and more elegant feel than its Italian predecessors and is highly legible. With it, France assumed a leading role in the field. Garamond would remain one of the most important typefaces throughout Europe for almost 250 years and was used primarily for printing fine literature. In the 20th century, the typeface experienced a renaissance of its own. Many type founders and designers used Garamond as the basis for new creations. Even today, almost every significant type provider has Garamond in its assortment.