Baskerville AN INTRODUCTION
cap height x-height baseline
Baskerville 3
1
2
4
5
[1]vertical stress on rounded letters [2]sharp, bracketed serifs [3]curved strokes are more circular [4]contrast between thick and thin strokes [5]larger x-height
Transitional Serif
“ The epitome of neo-classicism &
eighteenth century rationalism in type.”
- Robert Bringhurst
Baskerville was designed in 1757 by John Baskerville, an English “writing master” turned printer. Baskerville’s intention was to improve upon the readability of traditional fonts, such as those created by William Caslon. Baskerville is a transitional font, as it’s design falls somewhere between old-style and modern typefaces. John Baskerville increased the contrast between thick and thin strokes, made the serifs sharper and more tapered, shifted the axis of rounded letters to a more vertical position, and made the curved strokes more circular in shape. These changes created a greater consistency in size and form. Baskerville is well suited for use in long passages of text, because the curved letterforms allow for more space.
Aa Aa Aa Aa Baskerville Regular
Baskerville Italic
Baskerville Semi-Bold
Baskerville Bold
Q
the swish-like tail of the uppercase Q speaks to John Baskerville’s calligraphic background
A B C D E F H I J K L M O P Q R S U V W X Y a b c d e f h i j k l m o p q r s u v w x y
the italic & is ornamental and calligraphic
G N T Z g n t z
J
E J uppercase J extends well below baseline
1 2 3 4 56 7 8 9 0 ! ? @ # $ % & ( ) . , : ‘ “ ”
g
the loop of the lowercase g does nt meet its stem
This is the court style, Baskerville Bold 24 pt
and I found it to be more than matter of form: Baskerville Regular 22/24 pt
for, upon my admittance two days after my arrival, Baskerville Italic 24/26 pt
I was commanded to crawl upon my belly, Baskerville Semi Bold 18/20 pt
but, on account of my being a stranger,
and lick the Baskerville Bold Italic 18/20 pt
Baskerville Regular 20/22 pt
care was taken to Baskerville Bold Italic 20/22 pt
Baskerville Semi Bold 20 pt
- Jonathan Smith, Gulliver’s Travels (1726)