Designed by Friedrich Berthold in a single heavy and wide style, and first cast as metal type by H. Berthold AG in 1962. Not to be confused with Primus-Antiqua (Typoart, 1950). Berthold Fototypes offered both Primus and Primus-Antiqua as film type.

Priamos (Brendel, 1974–1978) expands the design into 7 weights. Its heaviest weight is not as heavy and wide as the original Primus, though. Alphabet Innovations made a narrower version called Primus Malleable with “missing serif” alternates for tighter spacing. [Vol. 7, 1972]