Apple’s introduction of the high resolution Retina screen in 2010 opened up new possibilities for Web typography, which Bellefair, created for Google Fonts in 2012, was designed to exploit. This typeface is distinguished by a very small x-height and sharp little serifs—not your typical Web font fare—with a grand effect redolent of the venerable “book faces” of print typography.
And, like the early days of those classic types, it has no kerning! That seemed an appropriate feature (not a bug), in keeping with the font’s antique vibe. Also, it was discovered, during the process of design, that the spacious proportions and open fit of the typeface tended to obviate kerning. For instance, in the word “Web,” that double-image /W is such a monster that it needs some breathing room, and the space (usually kerned) between it and the /e is similar to the space above the /e, so the general tone of spacing seems quite reasonable.
Another quality of Bellefair is its low contrast, which, along with the “chiseled” terminals, gives an all-cap setting the feel of a lapidary inscription. It looks good letter-spaced in titles (see Yogi Berra graphic below).
Although this is a single font with no bold or italic, a workaround of sorts may be had for certain kinds of setting, courtesy of the Beaufort family—the style from which Bellefair was, in fact, adapted.
