Task 04 - Research (Baskerville)

For Task 04 we have to create a poster based on one of the given typefaces, I chose Baskerville. The first part of the task is to collect as much research as we can on the typographer as well as the typeface. Below is the research I've collect so far, I will continue to post my ideas and resrearch (URLs of research can be seen at the end).

Baskerville

A Transitional Serif Typeface – Between the Old Style and Modern Style Typeface.

Designed by John Baskerville (1706 – 1775) in 1757.

Baskerville lived in Birmingham, England.

Baskerville was designed as an improvement on William Caslon’s typeface (Old style typeface).

John Baskerville’s advances in technology (formulating darker and faster-drying inks, inventing wove paper)

The typeface was sold by his widow, the typeface was passed around and went invisible until 1920 when it was rediscovered by Bruce Rogers.

Identifying Characteristics

tail on lowercase g does not close

swash-like tail of Q

small counter of italic e compared to italic a

J well below baseline

high crossbar and pointed apex of A

top and bottom serifs on C

W and w have no middle stroke

long lower arm of E

Many version feature a calligraphic J

T has wide arms

Resource Websites:-

http://www.rightreading.com/typehead/baskerville.htm

http://typophile.com/node/12622

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Baskerville