Reckless Collection
Displaay Type Foundry · Martin Vacha · 2014
A nine-family renaissance serif system by Martin Vacha, with three widths and three contrast levels totalling 72 weights and 144 styles.
About
A renaissance old-style serif system by Martin Vacha, first sketched in September 2012 during a UAL London internship in the Monotype archives, released in June 2014 and consolidated as the Reckless Collection in February 2026 (version 3.002). The collection runs to 9 families across three widths (Condensed, Standard, Wide) and three contrasts (S for small text with thick serifs and lower contrast, M for medium sizes, XL for large display). Total range is 72 weights and 144 styles, with a three-axis variable font covering Weight, Contrast and Width. Calligraphic terminals on a, f, j, r, C, c, G, S and s give it its character, with consistent bottoms across a, d and u that resolve the inconsistencies Vacha noticed in Times. Language support covers Latin and Central European plus Vietnamese, Greek and Cyrillic. Note that the legacy Reckless and Reckless Neue have been retired and replaced by this collection.
Classification
Displaay describes Reckless as a serif typeface with a renaissance (old-style) character and a notably raised x-height, drawing from calligraphic influences in early serif designs. The current Reckless Collection replaces the legacy Reckless and Reckless Neue with nine sub-families: three widths (Condensed, Standard, Wide) by three contrasts (S, M, XL).