John Baskerville

John Baskerville was born in 1706. He was a writer and a headstone engraver in England in the 18th century, but later became a printer. He set up a printing business in 1750, but it took him 7 years to produce his first book, in 1757 because he was such a perfectionist. He also had businesses in japanning and paper mache in addition, but prior to his printing and typography, but was most well known for the latter. In 1758 he became the printer for Cambridge University. He was an atheist, but in 1763 he printed his masterpiece, a folio Bible, for the University. His designs had level serifs and he contrasted the weight of heavy and light lines. He was a member of the Royal Society of Arts. Benjamin Franklin admired Baskerville, who was also a member of the Royal Society of Arts. Franklin took Baskerville’s typography designs back to the United States where they began to use them in government documents. John Baskerville died in 1775, but his wife ran the press until 1777. Because of jealous competitors, Baskerville’s fonts began to decline in popularity and became scarcely used until the 1920’s. His fonts, now mostly called ‘Baskerville’ have been re-released and given life again.

His type uses heavy and light contrasting line weights, curves, sharp serifs, and elegant forms to be unique.

http://www.wikipedia.com
http://www.myfonts.com/person/baskerville/john/