The Baskerville Society has been formed by Birmingham-based academics Dr Caroline Archer of The Typographic Hub at the Birmingham City University Institute of Art & Design, and Dr Malcolm Dick from the University of Birmingham’s Centre for West Midlands History.

From his offices in the city, John Baskerville created the eponymous typeface that is still widely used and admired to this day, and was a major innovator in the development of typography, paper and printing techniques in the 18^th century.  

He is also famous for being the "thrice-buried printer" after his remains had to be moved twice after his death and original burial in 1775.

The Baskerville Society will hold its launch event on the evening of 7 November, at the Arts Building at the University of Birmingham. A few tickets are still available. Its aims include encouraging research into his work, and the promotion of "public knowledge and understanding of John Baskerville’s life, times and significance".

It stated: "Despite his importance, fame and influence many aspects of Baskerville’s work and life remain unexplored and his contribution to printing, the arts, technological change and the Enlightenment are largely unrecognised."

There will be talks by Archer and Dick at the event, and a performance of "Hic Jacet" or "The Corpse in the Crescent" a play about Baskerville that was first broadcast by the BBC in 1947.

More details at www.typographichub.org.