Comoediae
Birminghamiae: Johannis Baskerville(typis), 1772. First Edition. Quarto. Item #022088
. First Baskerville edition. 364pp., John Baskerville (1706-1775) was forty-four when he gave up engraving to establish his own printing business. He developed a beautiful typeface and new recipes for ink. To print his delicate new font, Baskerville needed a "kiss impression," that is, a clean image on the paper made with the least amount of pressure possible from the plate. This required a smooth, uniform surface and so, Baskerville had James Whatman the Elder (1702-1759) refine his paper moulds and papermaking process to create such a paper. The first book to use Baskerville’s refined type and Whatman’s new wove paper was a book of Virgil’s poetry published in 1757. [Julie L. Mellby] Bound in full dark brown polished calf, borders beautifully decorated in gilt, Rebacked(?) raised bands ruled in gilt, green morocco spine label and all edges gilt, marbled endpapers, corners worn, closed tear to title page with old repair, internally clean and free of foxing. A very good copy.
Price: $450.00