About NaN Serf

NaN Serf is our present-day old-style serif tailored to excel at all sizes. Orthogonal detailing brings a sharp vectorial alignment to a centuries old genre matching functionality with panache. At small sizes it imparts a warm letterpress quality while at larger sizes geometrical shaping gives it a crisp, contemporary finish. Serf comes in 4 optical sizes from a look-at-me Display to a pragmatic Micro cut.

Designed with versatility in mind Serf is as comfortable in editorial environments as in digital and branding use. Its 8 weights per optical size giving the flexibility needed for a variety of applications. Go big or small or go home.

Its perpendicular terminals, open counters and distinctive flat terminal-endings behave particularly well on screen with sharp pixel-snapping complimenting an intentional graphic imperative. Serf is a web-ready type family, developed to behave well large and small, on screen and in print, making it an ideal multi channel typeface. Like all our fontz it contains a rigorous character set, wide language support and a few silly surprises. See the PDF for more details.

And the kicker: NaN Serf is available in 2 distinct versions: Serf A ■ features stylised squared punctuation and dots while Serf B ● sports traditional rounded forms for the more conservative at heart.

Version 1.1 – July 2024
NaN Serf has been updated with italics in every weight. Next updates might or might not include monospaced versions. Every licensee of the Full Family package will receive every next update for free. 

serf.nan.xyz

Typeface: NaN Serf
Designed by NaN
NaN Team: Daria Cohen, Fadhl Haqq, Léon Hugues, Jean-Baptiste Morizot, Luke Prowse, Florian Runge
Additional Engineering: Igino Marini
Year: 2022-2024
Languages: Supporting 305 latin based languages
Formats: TTF, WOFF2 (Autohinted)

Download PDF Specimen

Microsite: serf.nan.xyz

No Master Only Serfs!
The Society of the Commons
Work Without the Worker
The Destruction of Reason, 1902
Der Begriff „leibeigen“ ist erstmals in einer von Adolf Friedrich I. von Mecklenburg herausgegebenen „Gesinde- und Bauernordnung“ von 1645 belegt.
KHOLOPS WERE THE LOWEST CLASS OF SERFS IN THE MEDIEVAL AND EARLY MODERN RUSSIA. THEY HAD STATUS SIMILAR TO SLAVES, AND COULD BE FREELY TRADED.
Lysergic Acid Diethylamide* Is An Ergoline Derivative: 5-HT1A (Ki = 1.1 nM), 5-HT2A (Ki = 2.9 nM), 5-HT2B (Ki = 4.9 nM)
OEFENMATCHEN. KV Mechelen klopt Genk, zuinige zege voor Standard
Rays Center Fielder No. 947 in Draft, No. 1 in Defense
ANALYSE. Iedereen kijkt naar Sagan (behalve zijn eigen team)
Mendes vs. McGregor: UFC 189 Main Event Odds, Predictions and Tale of the Tape
Video: What It’s Like to Face a 150 M.P.H. Tennis Serve
Giants’ Jason Pierre-Paul Should Be Able to Overcome Loss of Finger, Former Players Say
Orienteering’s Key to Winning: Not Getting Lost
Boston’s 2024 Olympic Bid Faces Skepticism Despite New Proposal, Poll Finds
#000 — Luciana Hainzelin
#001 — Leya Dombes
#002 — Anjana Defache
#003 — Aryelle Bergeal
#004 — Kameron Bidaux
#005 — Iliess Rochebouet
#006 — Narcisse Montanavelli
#007 — Johra Balannec
#008 — Rudie Gouabault
#009 — Pasqualino Bitout
#010 — Albertus Vignoulle
#011 — Joshua Jurion
#012 — Meloud Aude
#013 — Maroi Kessenheimer
#014 — Leana Serusclat
#015 — Samuella Thibus
#016 — Egle Grandazzi
#017 — Miia Langelier
#018 — Art Champandard
#019 — Gaella Sompayrac
#020 — Philippine Ferlisi
#021 — Chrislene Zemire
#022 — Keycha Desebe
#023 — Kamel Niault
#024 — Akime Boudol
#025 — Amadou Medez
#026 — Dastane De Blasiis
#027 — Bulent Brivezac
#028 — Azize Boussekine
#029 — Tatianna Neiva
#030 — Mordjane Pojer
#031 — Christ-Emmanuel Sergolle
#032 — Kaourantin Darbier
#033 — Sisley Pomes-Pedabadie
#034 — Antoine-Louis Sibertin-Blanc
#035 — Iara Hopquin
#036 — Erminia Boudjemaa
#037 — Djessi Farinaux
#038 — Indila Madine
#039 — Ceres Leobold
#040 — Maolan Addenet
#041 — Joab Palomino
#042 — Lenaick Jagorel
#043 — Maissa Spinetti
#044 — Garcia Diette
#045 — Rose-Hélène Monthioux
#046 — Lisy Mehah
#047 — Hayder Limer
#048 — Reneld Boulhic
#049 — Otto Duchambon
#050 — Loéva Priest
#051 — Romulus Wohlgemuth
#052 — Morena Vanfleteren
#053 — Ptissem Haquet
#054 — Maellysse Amadon
#055 — Véronica Lepeut
#056 — Alphena Dial
#057 — Thyana Degroisse
#058 — Dosithee Reissent
#059 — Annelie Grosdoigt
#060 — Alise Cattaud
#061 — Madalina Heizmann
#062 — Clothaire Leculee
#063 — Maureene Atache
#064 — Douae Vandenboren
#065 — Telmo Nouallet
#066 — Chaida Vigeon
#067 — Cloud Estampes
#068 — Gregorio Gutmann
#069 — Arnaldo Chauvanet
#070 — Ratib Le Peculier
#071 — Nassime Giboudot
#072 — Magnolia Kronenberger
#073 — Loryanne Mauchoffe
#074 — Eldin Schenegg
#075 — Hayna Basillais
#076 — Ylenia Peruzza
#077 — Lisandro Cotereau
#078 — Eusebia Montier
#079 — Liria Labasque
One swallow does not make a summer, neither does one fine day; similarly one day or brief time of happiness does not make a person entirely happy.
The decline of serfdom in Western Europe has sometimes been attributed to the widespread plague epidemic of the Black Death, which reached Europe in 1347 and caused massive fatalities, disrupting society. Conversely, serfdom grew stronger in Central and Eastern Europe, where it had previously been less common (this phenomenon was known as “second serfdom”).
EDUCATING THE MIND WITHOUT EDUCATING THE HEART IS NO EDUCATION AT ALL.
In 1970, Peter Schmidt created “The Thoughts Behind the Thoughts”, a box containing 55 sentences letterpress printed onto disused prints that accumulated in his studio, which is still in Eno’s possession. Eno, who had known Schmidt since the late 1960s, had been pursuing a similar project himself, which he had handwritten onto a number of bamboo cards and given the name “Oblique Strategies” in 1974. There was a significant overlap between the two projects, and so, in late 1974, Schmidt and Eno combined them into a single pack of cards and offered them for general sale. The set went through three limited edition printings before Schmidt suddenly died in early 1980, after which the card decks became rather rare and expensive. Sixteen years later software pioneer Peter Norton convinced Eno to let him create a fourth edition as Christmas gifts for his friends (not for sale, although they occasionally come up at auction). Eno’s decision to revisit the cards and his collaboration with Norton in revising them is described in detail in his 1996 book A Year with Swollen Appendices. With public interest in the cards undiminished, in 2001 Eno once again produced a new set of Oblique Strategies cards. The number and content of the cards vary according to the edition. In May 2013 a limited edition of 500 boxes, in burgundy rather than black, was issued. In 1970, Peter Schmidt created “The Thoughts Behind the Thoughts” a box containing 55 sentences letterpress printed onto disused prints that accumulated in his studio, which is still in Eno’s possession. Eno, who had known Schmidt since the late 1960s, had been pursuing a similar project himself, which he had handwritten onto a number of bamboo cards and given the name “Oblique Strategies” in 1974. There was a significant overlap between the two projects, and so, in late 1974, Schmidt and Eno combined them into a single pack of cards and offered them for general sale.
“Version A*!”
“Version B*!”
DIE LEIBEIGENSCHAFT WURDE DURCH DIE GEBURT BEGRÜNDET; AUSSCHLAGGEBEND WAR DER STAND DER MUTTER. HATTE EIN WITWER KINDER AUS MEHREREN EHEN, KONNTE DIES SOGAR ZUR WEGNAHME VON KINDERN FÜHREN. FREIE KONNTEN IN UNFREIHEIT GERATEN. DIE „VERJÄHRUNG“ DES FREIEN STANDES TRAT EIN, WENN SICH EIN FREIER IN EINER GEGEND NIEDERLIESS, WO DIE LÄNDLICHE BEVÖLKERUNG LEIBEIGEN WAR. SELBST FREI GEBORENE KINDER WURDEN LEIBEIGEN, WENN IHRE ELTERN NACH DER GEBURT LEIBEIGEN WURDEN.WER SICH ALS FREIER NICHT MEHR WIRTSCHAFTLICH HALTEN KONNTE, KONNTE SICH IN LEIBEIGENSCHAFT BEGEBEN. UM WIRKSAMKEIT ZU ERLANGEN, MUSSTE DIESE ERKLÄRUNG IN EINEM ERGEBEBRIEF SCHRIFTLICH ABGEGEBEN WERDEN.AUCH MASSENEIDE NACH VORGEFERTIGTEN MUSTERN KAMEN VOR, MIT DENEN UNTERTANEN SICH VERPFLICHTETEN, SICH DEM LEIBHERRN MIT LEIB UND GUT NICHT ZU ENTFREMDEN, IN WÜRTTEMBERG 1282/1283 UND 1296/1297, UND IN BASEL 1499. DIE AUFHEBUNG DER LEIBEIGENSCHAFT KONNTE DURCH FREILASSUNG GEGEN ENTGELT UND NACH BELIEBEN DES GUTSHERRN ERFOLGEN.[55] DIE ABWESENHEIT VOM GUT HATTE DIE VERJÄHRUNG DES LEIBEIGENTUMS ZUR FOLGE. BEI LEDIGEN BETRUG DIE FRIST 31 JAHRE, SECHS WOCHEN UND DREI TAGE; BEI VERHEIRATETEN ZEHN JAHRE. IN WÜRTTEMBERG KAM ES IN AUSNAHMEFÄLLEN ZUM AUSTAUSCH VON LEIBEIGENEN ZWISCHEN EINZELNEN LEIBHERREN, INSBESONDERE IN ANGRENZENDEN TERRITORIEN. EIN WECHSEL KAM AUCH AUF INITIATIVE VON LEIBEIGENEN VOR, MEIST WENN SIE HEIRATEN UND DESHALB WEGZIEHEN WOLLTEN, ABER KEIN GELD FÜR EINEN FREIKAUF HATTEN. LEIBEIGENE KONNTEN MIT GÜTERN UND AUCH EINZELN VERKAUFT WERDEN.
Serf A Text
In 1970, Peter Schmidt created “The Thoughts Behind the Thoughts”, a box containing 55 sentences letterpress printed onto disused prints that accumulated in his studio, which is still in Eno’s possession. Eno, who had known Schmidt since the late 1960s, had been pursuing a similar project himself, which he had handwritten onto a number of bamboo cards and given the name “Oblique Strategies” in 1974. There was a significant overlap between the two projects, and so, in late 1974, Schmidt and Eno combined them into a single pack of cards and offered them for general sale. The set went through three limited edition printings before Schmidt suddenly died in early 1980, after which the card decks became rather rare and expensive. Sixteen years later software pioneer Peter Norton convinced Eno to let him create a fourth edition as Christmas gifts for his friends (not for sale, although they occasionally come up at auction). Eno’s decision to revisit the cards and his collaboration with Norton in revising them is described in detail in his 1996 book A Year with Swollen Appendices. With public interest in the cards undiminished, in 2001 Eno once again produced a new set of Oblique Strategies cards. The number and content of the cards vary according to the edition. In May 2013 a limited edition of 500 boxes, in burgundy rather than black, was issued. In 1970, Peter Schmidt created “The Thoughts Behind the Thoughts” a box containing 55 sentences letterpress printed onto disused prints that accumulated in his studio, which is still in Eno’s possession. Eno, who had known Schmidt since the late 1960s, had been pursuing a similar project himself, which he had handwritten onto a number of bamboo cards and given the name “Oblique Strategies” in 1974. There was a significant overlap between the two projects, and so, in late 1974, Schmidt and Eno combined them into a single pack of cards and offered them for general sale.
Serf A Micro
In 1970, Peter Schmidt created “The Thoughts Behind the Thoughts”, a box containing 55 sentences letterpress printed onto disused prints that accumulated in his studio, which is still in Eno’s possession. Eno, who had known Schmidt since the late 1960s, had been pursuing a similar project himself, which he had handwritten onto a number of bamboo cards and given the name “Oblique Strategies” in 1974. There was a significant overlap between the two projects, and so, in late 1974, Schmidt and Eno combined them into a single pack of cards and offered them for general sale. The set went through three limited edition printings before Schmidt suddenly died in early 1980, after which the card decks became rather rare and expensive. Sixteen years later software pioneer Peter Norton convinced Eno to let him create a fourth edition as Christmas gifts for his friends (not for sale, although they occasionally come up at auction). Eno’s decision to revisit the cards and his collaboration with Norton in revising them is described in detail in his 1996 book A Year with Swollen Appendices. With public interest in the cards undiminished, in 2001 Eno once again produced a new set of Oblique Strategies cards. The number and content of the cards vary according to the edition. In May 2013 a limited edition of 500 boxes, in burgundy rather than black, was issued. In 1970, Peter Schmidt created “The Thoughts Behind the Thoughts” a box containing 55 sentences letterpress printed onto disused prints that accumulated in his studio, which is still in Eno’s possession. Eno, who had known Schmidt since the late 1960s, had been pursuing a similar project himself, which he had handwritten onto a number of bamboo cards and given the name “Oblique Strategies” in 1974. There was a significant overlap between the two projects, and so, in late 1974, Schmidt and Eno combined them into a single pack of cards and offered them for general sale.
The Manorial System Exhibited A Degree Of Reciprocity.