--- claws-mail-3.16.0.old/src/prefs_common.c
+++ claws-mail-3.16.0/src/prefs_common.c
@@ -95,9 +95,9 @@
 	 &prefs_common.newmail_notify_cmd, P_STRING, NULL, NULL, NULL},
 
 	/* new fonts */
-	{"message_font_gtk2",	"Monospace 9",
+	{"message_font_gtk2",	"Bitstream Vera Sans Mono 11",
 	 &prefs_common.textfont,		P_STRING, NULL, NULL, NULL},
-        {"print_font_gtk2",     "Monospace 9",
+        {"print_font_gtk2",     "Bitstream Vera Sans Mono 11",
          &prefs_common.printfont,		P_STRING, NULL, NULL, NULL},
 	{"small_font_gtk2",	"Sans 9",
 	  &prefs_common.smallfont,		P_STRING, NULL, NULL, NULL},
--- claws-mail-3.16.0.old/src/wizard.c
+++ claws-mail-3.16.0/src/wizard.c
@@ -450,7 +450,14 @@
 	prefs_common.boldfont = pango_font_description_to_string(bold_desc);
 	pango_font_description_free(bold_desc);
 	g_free(curfont);
-#endif	
+#endif
+
+// KLUDGE 070602:  If size isn't  forced to  at least  11 here,  fonts
+// may be rendered correctly. Note: This is probably a distro-specific
+// issue.
+
+    if (size < 11) size = 11;
+
 	tmp = g_strdup(prefs_common.textfont);
 	if (strrchr(tmp, ' ')) {
 		*(strrchr(tmp, ' ')) = '\0';