Why classic type is like a Victorian house

There is a romantic notion that Victorian houses are somehow more desirable than newly built ones. I agree that they can be charming. But are they really better than a new build, given that the original sash windows are going to be draughty, the old wiring unreliable and the lead pipe drinking water potentially harmful?

There are great type designs from as far back as Jenson, or the works by Garamond, Caslon, Baskerville and Bodoni, to name a few. And there is a similar romantic notion about metal type and the work done by our predecessors. Few would ever attempt to tear down a Victorian house to rebuild it with a few contemporary touches. So why is it that a great many type designers love to revive some metal type or other?

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