After Baskerville’s death, his punches and other typographic material were sold, by his widow, Sarah, to France and they passed from one French foundry to another until they were final acquired by the Parisian Fonderies Deberny et Peignot. Its director, Charles Peginot (1897–1983), generously offered to return them to Britain and presented them to the University of Cambridge on 12 March 1953, after they had spent nearly 180 years in France. The event was of considerable moment to all those interested in typography and their return was reported in both the national and local press.The ceremony took place in the gallery of Emmanuel College, Cambridge where, in the presence of the French Ambassador, René Massigili (1888–1988). The Vice-Chancellor, Sir Lionel Whitby (1895–1956), received on behalf of the University the original Baskerville punches from Charles Peignot. Sir Lionel expressed the gratitude of the University and declared that the return of the punches was not only a tribute to the University Press but also a gesture of the larger significance of Anglo-French co-operation in the sphere of learning and culture. Guests included Sydney Castle Roberts (1887–1966), Master of Pembroke and former Secretary to Cambridge University Press (CUP); Edward Welbourne (1894–1966), the historian and Master of Emmanuel; H. S. Bennett (1889–1972), Fellow of the British Academy and Chairman of the Syndics of the Press; Stanley Morison (1889–1967), the typographer and printing historian ; R. J. L. Kingsford (1900–78) author and secretary of the University Press; and Brooke Crutchley (1907–2003) the then University Printer.
