Drame

1772 — 364p. Uncut and unopened. Foxed. 4to. [304 x 235 mm.] Contemporary binding of paper boards backed in morocco tooled in gold gilt. John Baskerville (1706-1775) was the greatest printer of his era. Born in Wolverley, Hereford - Worcester, England, he became a writing master in Birmingham. He also carried on a successful japanning (varnishing) business there. In about 1750 he began to make experiments in letter founding, and produced the wonderful series of types now named after him. His first book, the Virgil of 1757, was also the first to be printed upon wove paper (manufactured by a process that he invented). In 1758 he became printer to Cambridge University. All of his books show fine craftsmanship and a refined sense of design. In the last few years before his death, Baskerville published a few Latin classics in quarto and duodecimo. "All these bear the marks of unabated genius even in his declining days: and suffice, had he printed nothing else, to distinguish him as the first typographer of his time" - T. B. Reed, in 'Old English Letter Foundries' It is worth emphasising how remarkable it is to find an uncut and unopened Baskerville quarto. Gaskell 46; Brunet V:718. EXTREMELY RARE AND UNUSUAL. **PRICE JUST REDUCED! W113