Jan van Krimpen designed Spectrum for the Dutch Enschedé foundry in 1952. Released by the Monotype Corporation in 1955, Spectrum is a direct descendant of the great Aldine types of Venice, which are characterized by their pen-based curves and oblique serifs.

As venerable as its forebears are, Spectrum has a crisp twentieth-century feel. Spectrum is a fine text type that is useful for a large variety of printed work, from brochures and advertisements to books and magazines.