{"product_id":"1762-common-prayer","title":"1762 COMMON PRAYER. A Highly Collectible Typographical Masterpiece by John Baskerville","description":"\u003cp\u003eA rather nicely preserved example of the 1762 Baskerville \u003cem\u003eBook of Common Prayer\u003c\/em\u003e, a milestone in 18th-century typography produced at the peak of John Baskerville’s work as Printer to Cambridge University. Baskerville had spent years refining and perfecting a completely integrated typographic system, designing a transitional typeface with razor-sharp contrast between thick and thin strokes, perfectly vertical axes, and precise, elegant serifs that bridged traditional calligraphic style and modern geometric design. His eponymous font remains a standard to the present.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eBeyond letterforms, Baskerville also revolutionized printing mechanics by formulating a dense, ultra-black ink and introducing \"wove\" paper, a smooth, textureless sheet created using woven wire molds. He pressed the freshly printed sheets between hot copper plates (\"hot-pressing\") to seal the dark ink into the paper, creating an unprecedented high-contrast, mirror-like finish.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThis 1762 octavo edition exemplifies his signature aesthetic philosophy: allowing exquisite letter design, immaculate presswork, and generous white space to carry the grandeur of the sacred text, without relying on or being distracted by traditional woodcut illustrations, heavy borders, or ornate decorative rules.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cmeta charset=\"utf-8\"\u003e\u003cspan\u003e\u003cem\u003eBaskerville was one of the giants of English typography, introducing a number of innovations, including the eponymous typeface still in use today. His typefaces were finely constructed, his designs simple, and spare, and made great use of white space. He also pioneered the development of fine papers for printing.\u003c\/em\u003e (Society of Archbishop Justus).\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eThe Book of Common Prayer, And Administration of the Sacraments, and Other Rites and Ceremonies of the Church, According to the use of the Church of England: Together with the Psalter or Psalms of David, Pointed as they are to be sung or said in Churches. Cambridge, Printed by John Baskerville, Printer to the University; by whom they are sold, and by B. Dod, Bookseller, in Ave-Mary Lane, Lonodn. MDCCLXII [1762]. 8vo Edition. \u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eA good + example of the rare 8vo edition in original 18th century boards, respined at some point in the 19th century and the front hinge now breached and a bit tender, though certainly intact and stable with some care. The title and ffep adhered a bit tightly as shown, a few pages with small close tears and a bit handled at some of the preliminary pages. Minor sporadic foxing. Early ownership signature of William Veargitt on the rfep.  \u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Specs Fine Books","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":51328509804580,"sku":null,"price":450.0,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"url":"https:\/\/specsfinebooks.com\/products\/1762-common-prayer","provider":"Specs Fine Books","version":"1.0","type":"link"}