Mrs Eaves
Emigre · Zuzana Licko · 1996
Zuzana Licko's 1996 Baskerville revival, distinguished by its wide letterspacing, small x-height and extensive ligature set, drawing its name from John Baskerville's housekeeper and eventual wife, Sarah Eaves.
About
Designed at Emigre in 1996, Mrs Eaves takes Baskerville as its historical reference point while departing from strict revival orthodoxy: the x-height is unusually low, the letterspacing generous, and the overall texture more even and soft than its source material. Small caps, petite caps and lining figures are offered as separate fonts, and the family became widely associated with late-1990s graphic design culture. Its combination of period warmth and deliberate quirkiness gave it a distinctive character among digital revivals of the era.
Classification
A revival of Baskerville with notably wide letterspacing and small x-height, placing it firmly in the transitional serif tradition. The design prioritises elegance and period texture over modern readability conventions.