The French interest in the revival of suitably edited Oldstyle romans as an alternative to a world of Modern typefaces started in 1846 when Louis Perrin cut the Lyons capitals.

About 1860, as Phemister was cutting the Miller & Richard Old Style in Edinburgh, Theophile Beaudoire turned the idea of the Lyons capitals into a complete Oldstyle typeface, with similar overwhelming success; it was generally known as Elzevir in France and Roemisch, Romanisch, Romaans or Romana in Germany, Holland and Switzerland.

In 1892, Gustav Schroeder, at the Central Division of ATF, expanded the series, adding a boldface under the name DeVinne. It was promptly copied, initially in Europe by Ludwig & Mayer, and spread rapidly throughout the US and Europe, becoming the best known member of the series. ATF made popular an ornamental form under the name De Vinne Ornamental.