Baskerville 2025: commemorating the 250 anniversary of the death of John Baskerville
Dr Caroline Archer-Parré, Dr Ann-Marie Carey, Antonia Parker-Smith, Marcus Paragpuri, Dr Martin Perkins
Funded: The Baskerville Society
Baskerville died in 1775, and his posthumous reputation is based on the excellence of his printing and the influence of his typeface. Yet a reading of his last will and testament makes it clear that Baskerville wished to be remembered not as a printer but as someone who broke through the superstitions of his age to realise a relationship with man and God based on reason and morality. So important was this to Baskerville that he not only articulated it in his will he also had it carved on his tomb as a message to future generations. It is a message which has been lost over time, but which will be reinvestigated in 2025 when we will commemorate the 250th anniversary of Baskerville death and honour the life, work and death of the printer, deist and free-thinker, John Baskerville.
