I'm currently setting captions for a book project. Some weeks ago, I chose the font Baskerville, and I'm using it in three ways:
- italic all caps for the subject's name
- italic upper & lower for the subject's title;
- book small caps for the subject's location.
I chose it based on one or two test samples using generic text. And now that I am setting the final text, I'm ever so pleased.
The italics have stopped me in my tracks today. Which is bad, because said book is on a helluva tight schedule. The impetus for this post is the uppercase italic "Z." It's beautiful. And before that, I realized that the uppercase italic "Y," "J," and "N" are utterly fantastic. Oh—and the (upstroke) on the lowercase "p!" And the "w," did I tell you about that one?
Ok, ok. I know, we're dangerously into nerd category here. But here are the loverly specimens of which I write:
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- Detail of Baskerville Italic
Baskerville the font is named after John Baskerville (1706 — 1775). He was as true innovator in his time, working to design typefaces, improve the process by which paper was made, and make design innovations to the printing press. He also designed and published his own books. One could go on and on, but if you're truly interested, check out a copy of A History of Graphic Design by Philip B. Meggs, or read the wikipedia summary.
For this purpose, I'll note that his fonts were more delicate with thinner strokes than those of his contemporaries. Baskerville's work falls into the "transitional" category of serifs and is recognized as the most influential of the transitional faces. Baskerville the font is now said to be one of the best typestyles for printed books—although in it's time there was some argument on that point.
Personally, I adore the fancy details. Pretty, pretty, pretty I say! But also intelligent and sophisticated.
In this age when san serif is king of modern-hip-smart-pure design (I myself even think so), it's refreshing to rediscover a gorgeous serif with such nice details.
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