Who is John Baskerville…
John Baskerville was a British typographer born in 1706 and died in 1775. In 1757 Baskerville set up a printing house and published his first work, an edition of Virgil. He served as a printer to Cambridge University and he created the widely used Baskerville typeface, which is still used and prized for its clarity and balance. His typefaces introduced the modern, pseudo classical style, with level serifs and with emphasis on the contrast of light and heavy lines. The bold quality of Baskerville's print derived from his use of a highly glossed paper and a truly black ink that he had invented. His typography was much criticized in England, and after his death his types were purchased by the French dramatist Pierre-Augustin Caron de Beaumarchais. After his death his wife operated the press until 1777. Then most of his types were purchased by Beaumarchais and were used in his 70-volume edition of Voltaire. Although an atheist he printed a splendid folio bible in 1763. Then between 1770–73 Baskerville produces a four-volume edition of Ariosto’s "Orlando Furioso". Then in1953 Baskerville’s original letter stamps and matrices are donated to Cambridge University Press.
What makes Baskerville "unique"?
What makes Baskerville unique is the clarity of the text. Baskerville also was responsible for significant innovations in printing, paper and ink production. He developed a technique which produced a smoother whiter paper which showcased his strong black type making it clear to viewers. Baskerville also pioneered a completely new style of typography adding wide margins and leading between each line.
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