… the adage «never use more than three typefaces on a page» is not an unassailable truth; rather, it's a modernist principle that's best applied in editorial design. While it may be true that most great pop songs use only three chords, some use more and some use less. So it goes with type.

Look at 19th century posters, and you'll see that the Victorians used a lot more than three typefaces—they sometimes threw the whole type case at the job. Today, many find this style charming and emulate it.

Nigel French.