


Baskerville was able to profit off this – but instead she paid the money over to the charity. He left £500 of his estate to a charity, although the bequest was invalid due to legal reasons. Sir Arthur Conan Doyle, reportedly borrowed Baskerville’s name for his Sherlock Holmes story, The Hound of the Baskervilles – Doyle did reside in Birmingham for a while during his lifetime… Death and Burial(s)ĭied 8 th January 1775 (aged 68) I couldn’t find the cause of death, only that he died at home at Easy Hill.

She acted as a partner with him, and was very much involved in his business life as well. The two soon fell in love and lived as a couple for sixteen years until Eave’s husband died, allowing them to marry, when she was 56 and he 58 (June 1 1764). After her husband left the country due to fear of imprisonment, Baskerville took Eaves and her four children in, with Eaves to act as his housekeeper. John Baskerville lived with his lifelong partner Sarah Eaves. He also innovated the pigment of ink used in printing, taking from his japanning it is said his black ink was blacker and shinier than any available at the time. Baskerville’s impact on typeface was pioneering, his composition was different from that of the time, with spaces between the lines and greater margins in the books, his pages were fresh, clean looking and easier to read.
Important dates for baskerville typeface series#
Baskerville.’ġ770 – printed a 2nd edition of Horace, due to its success ventured on a series of Latin authors. If not brought home in consequence of this advertisement whoever will give notice where he is so that he may be had again shall receive the same reward and the thanks of J. Whoever will bring him to the owner shall receive five shillings reward.
Important dates for baskerville typeface full#
‘Also lost on Whitsuntide morning a full curled white puppy dog about ten weeks old, the upper part of his head and 9long0 ears of a dark chestnut brown, a large spot of the same colour on his loins, rump and fore legs. This once again demonstrated his outreach to the influential people of Birmingham.ġ767 – an insert from Baskerville in Birmingham Gazette, about losing his dog: In his editions of the Bible lists of subscribers can be found (people who donated to his funds to make the project). This role was so important due to the fact people were wary of printers making mistakes or changes that would in turn have an effect on the reading. 1758 is also the year he became printer to Cambridge.ġ763 – undertook printing an edition of the Bible (considered his masterpiece) To print an edition of the Bible was a great honour, and Baskerville has needed special permission, granted through a vote, to undertake the task. This same year the American inventor and philosopher, Benjamin Franklin, visited him, taking Baskerville’s designs back to the United States with him. ‘Having been an early admirer of the setting of letters I became insensibly desirous of contributing the perfection of them.’ It is important to remember that although Baskerville is very influential within typeface history, he would not have been working alone, rather joined by many Birmingham craftsmen, including the punchcutter John Handy.ġ758 – published Lost Paradise by John Milton. This came after beginning to experiment with typefaces and letter founding. After setting up a printing house, published his first work, Virgil. This house no longer exists but was on the site of Baskerville House (built 1938) next to the contemporary Birmingham Library.ġ757 – His newfound fortune from the japanning company enabled him to pursue his passion for lettering once again – this time through printing. Using this money he was able to build a house at Easy Hill. Japanning is essentially the process of varnishing metal ware, usually with pictures. As someone that was extremely motivated by money this venture ultimately made him a lot of money. Of his early jobs we know he spent a while as a young man engraving tombstones.ġ740 – Started a japanning business in Moor Street, Birmingham, after being introduced to the trade by journeyman cabinet-maker, John Taylor. He later on in life became a firmer believer in the separation of church and state. Not a lot is known of his upbringing, apart from the fact he was raised Presbyterian – but ultimately became a deist – respecting religion, yet also thinking it had been corrupted. January 28 1706(?) – Born at Sion Hill Farm, Wolverley, Worcestershire, England. John Baskerville, 1774, by James Millar, oil on canvas (730mm x 597mm) In the collection of Birmingham Museum and Art Gallery Timeline of Baskerville’s life
