The Baskerville Society

The Baskerville Society, a constituent part of the Centre for Printing History and Culture (CPHC), is dedicated to the study of the eighteenth-century typographer, printer, industrialist and Enlightenment figure, John Baskerville (1707-75).

John Baskerville not only designed one of the world’s most widely used, enduring and historically important founts, he also experimented with casting and setting type, improved the construction of the printing-press, helped to develop a new kind of paper and refined the quality of printing inks. Yet despite his importance, fame and influence many aspects of Baskerville’s work and life remain unexplored.

The Society considers Baskerville’s contribution to typographic and eighteenth-century history including: printing and typographic history, metals and materials, the history of the book and design, social and industrial history and bibliography. It runs a bi-annual conference, issues a regular newsletter, and a series of edited volumes published by Liverpool University Press.

Research staff

• Dr Caroline Archer-Parré
• Dr Malcolm Dick (University of Birmingham)