Joscelyn
Peter S. Baker · A digital Renaissance secretary-hand font based on a historical manuscript, using OpenType features to shape its cursive lettering.
Joscelyn is a font you can install on a Mac.
About
Joscelyn is a digital typeface modeled on the Renaissance secretary hand of a scribe who produced a copy of John Joscelyn’s Historiola Collegii Corporis Christi in MS Corpus Christi College, Cambridge, 488. Its cursive forms vary through OpenType features, aiming to reflect the character of the handwritten source.
- The font is supplied as a single OpenType font file,
Joscelyn.otf. - For its intended shaping, enable Contextual Alternates (
calt) and Standard Ligatures (liga) in the application where you use it. - The project notes that these features are enabled by default in major software except Microsoft Word, where they must be turned on explicitly. It also recommends checking the “kerning” box in Word, which enables the other OpenType features; kerning itself is not strictly necessary.
Install with brew install --cask font-joscelyn. After installation, select Joscelyn as the font in a compatible application and enable the cited OpenType features. This installs a font, not a separate application; the result depends on the font and OpenType-feature support of the software you use.
Sources: Project page · Project README
New What’s new in 1.020 May 16, 2025 · OpenNavo editorial
- TypographyImproved many character outlines
Install and uninstall
Homebrew installs the font in ~/Library/Fonts, where Font Book can use it.
Install without Homebrew
Download the same file Homebrew uses: github.com/psb1558/Joscelyn-font/releases/download/v1.020/Joscelyn_1_020.zip
SHA-256 only checks that the download is complete; it is not a security certification. See the SHA-256 and download address
$ brew uninstall --cask \ font-joscelynA regular uninstall removes the app and keeps its settings and caches.
Facts and sources
- Version 1.020
- Recorded by Homebrew on May 17, 2025Released by the vendor on May 16, 2025
Questions
How do I update Joscelyn?
Run brew upgrade --cask font-joscelyn to get the latest version Homebrew records.
Can I install Joscelyn without Homebrew?
Yes, download it from the official website, github.com/psb1558/Joscelyn-font.