Baskerville
John Baskerville’s crisp roman of 1757 – the transition between old-style and modern romans.
Baskerville’s first book, an edition of Virgil of 1757, attracted attention with its crisp letters and smooth, bright paper. Critics claimed it was hard to read.
The typeface influenced Didot in France and Bodoni in Italy. It was revived in the 20th century and is still used in books.
Materials: Cast metal type, smooth paper, deep black ink
Manufacture: Printed at Baskerville’s own press in Birmingham, on paper hot-pressed to make it smooth.
Greater contrast between thick and thin strokes than in Caslon.
An almost vertical stress and sharp serifs.
A g with an open lower loop and a Q with a long, swashed tail.