The use of bold fonts traces its origins to the early 19th century. Bold typefaces were initially developed around the 1800s as part of efforts to create more attention-grabbing print media. The Industrial Revolution saw a significant increase in advertising and commercial printing, necessitating type designs that could stand out in increasingly crowded layouts. The first known bold typeface, often called a “fat face,” was created by typeface designer Robert Thorne in London around 1803. These early bold typefaces were used mainly in display typography, such as in posters and advertisements, where emphasis and eye-catching elements were critical. Over the 20th century, bold fonts became more standardized and integrated into digital typography with the advent of desktop publishing, making them a common feature for highlighting and organizing text in both printed and digital media.