Virgil > Printed Editions
Virgil. Bucolica, Georgica, et Aeneis
Birmingham: John Baskerville, 1757
Columbia RBML BOOKART O17.En1 B29 1757v
John Baskerville published two versions of Virgil's Bucolica, Georgica et Aenias: this larger quarto in 1757 (his first publication) and a smaller octavo in 1766. Baskerville published many classical texts, including Horace's works, Terence's comedies, and the lyrics of Catullus, Tibullus, and Propertius. He also published more recent authors such as Crossgreve and Milton, and religious works: a Bible, and a Book of Common Prayer. For most of his career he was the printer for the Oxford University Press. According to his bibliographer Philip Gaskell, "Baskerville spared neither pains nor money to make his books as fine as he could, but his standards of textual accuracy were too low for the texts to be entirely successful; most of his books were unusually beautiful, expensive and incorrect."
A type designer as well as a printer and book designer, Baskerville is perhaps best known for the typeface named after him, characterized by high contrast and tapered serifs influenced by penmanship. Less well known is Baskerville’s role in the introduction of wove paper to Europe. Until papermaker James Whatman adapted papermaking screens toward the end of the eighteenth century at Baskerville’s request, all paper had noticeable chain lines and a slightly uneven texture. Because his typefaces employed fine, attenuated serifs Baskerville wanted a smooth, even printing surface. The pages from the Virgil show Baskerville's typical page layouts with wide leading (that is, wide spacing between lines).