An abbreviated history of Baskerville:
Designed in 1754, Baskerville is a timeless typeface that is more permanent than any and every trend. However, it was not always a beloved font. At the time, Caslon (its predecessor), was still in heavy favor and was used to set the famous Declaration of Independence and the US Constitution. Caslon fans were fierce proponents of the English old-style. Yet, John Baskerville decided the typeface needed an update and type into the neoclassical age. He redesigned the letters by making the hairlines thin, adding generous thick strokes, sharpening the serifs and creating a vertical axis. All of these factors helped increase legibility and made the design more pleasing to the eye.
Intially, the transitional …show more content…
John Baskerville used higher quality materials to print his work, including darker ink, better kerning, finer paper, thicker strokes than usual that fade into a perfected thinness. The Baskerville typeface was revolutionary for its massively improved print quality and its wonderful legibility that made reading easier on the eyes and aesthetically …show more content…
However, his massive interest in calligraphy and dedication to the art and the wonders of handwriting improved his design eye and helped him create Baskerville’s readable and embellished type forms.
Serven’s newly uncovered history
Serven was discovered in 2017 among John Baskerville’s early drafts. To celebrate Baskerville’s rich history and to commemorate its brilliant designer, the Typographic Association of America (TAA) has declared serven the 27th letter of the alphabet. Its name is derived from the old French word ‘servir.’ As a play on words, the arc of the letter is serving the tittle. To prevent serven from closely resembling a musical note, a serif was added to the end. In addition, a teardrop terminal was added to the stem to prevent the letterform from resembling an ‘i.’
The most intriguing aspect of serven is how the letter treks into both the ascender and descender lines. Although the letter is a large size, that does not detract from its elegance. The combination of the serifs and terminals with graceful hairline strokes and active leading lines. Serven easily fits into the alphabet with its distinct yet classical
Designed in 1754, Baskerville is a timeless typeface that is more permanent than any and every trend. However, it was not always a beloved font. At the time, Caslon (its predecessor), was still in heavy favor and was used to set the famous Declaration of Independence and the US Constitution. Caslon fans were fierce proponents of the English old-style. Yet, John Baskerville decided the typeface needed an update and type into the neoclassical age. He redesigned the letters by making the hairlines thin, adding generous thick strokes, sharpening the serifs and creating a vertical axis. All of these factors helped increase legibility and made the design more pleasing to the eye.
Intially, the transitional …show more content…
John Baskerville used higher quality materials to print his work, including darker ink, better kerning, finer paper, thicker strokes than usual that fade into a perfected thinness. The Baskerville typeface was revolutionary for its massively improved print quality and its wonderful legibility that made reading easier on the eyes and aesthetically …show more content…
However, his massive interest in calligraphy and dedication to the art and the wonders of handwriting improved his design eye and helped him create Baskerville’s readable and embellished type forms.
Serven’s newly uncovered history
Serven was discovered in 2017 among John Baskerville’s early drafts. To celebrate Baskerville’s rich history and to commemorate its brilliant designer, the Typographic Association of America (TAA) has declared serven the 27th letter of the alphabet. Its name is derived from the old French word ‘servir.’ As a play on words, the arc of the letter is serving the tittle. To prevent serven from closely resembling a musical note, a serif was added to the end. In addition, a teardrop terminal was added to the stem to prevent the letterform from resembling an ‘i.’
The most intriguing aspect of serven is how the letter treks into both the ascender and descender lines. Although the letter is a large size, that does not detract from its elegance. The combination of the serifs and terminals with graceful hairline strokes and active leading lines. Serven easily fits into the alphabet with its distinct yet classical