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Open Daily: 10am - 10pm | Alley-side Pickup: 10am - 7pm
3038 Hennepin Ave Minneapolis, MN
612-822-4611
Baskerville: The Biography of a Typeface

Baskerville: The Biography of a Typeface

Audio Book

General World HistoryArt & Popular CultureTypography & Calligraphy

Currently unavailable to order

ISBN13: 9798228301948
Publisher: Tantor Audio
Published: Oct 22 2024
Language: English
A compact and charming history of the classic Enlightenment font by the New York Times bestselling author of Just My Type.

When Baskerville was first created in 1757, there was concern that it would damage readers' eyes with its combination of thin and thick strokes and tapering serifs. Yet 250 years later, it remains one of the most commonly used typefaces in books of all kinds. As bestselling author Simon Garfield tells it, the tale of this elegant typeface is one of painstaking dedication. The font's creator, John Baskerville, was a maverick lacquer maker and master printer who made it his life's mission to achieve the font's perfection. His efforts culminated in his magnificent Bible, acclaimed as the finest ever made. Garfield explores why Baskerville's own body was dug up and buried many times before finally being allowed to rest in peace, and examines his legacy through the work of his wife, Sarah Baskerville--one of the first powerful women in the printing world--and the archivists and enthusiasts working to preserve the font's original steel punches today.

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Typography & Calligraphy