Sarah Baskerville

Sarah Baskerville (née Ruston; formerly Eaves; – 21 March 1788) was an English printer and businesswoman associated with the Birmingham printer, japanner and typefounder John Baskerville. She was John Baskerville's partner before their marriage, his wife from 1764, and the principal beneficiary of his estate. After his death in 1775 she retained control of the Baskerville printing and typefounding business, and works appeared with the imprint of Sarah or S. Baskerville.

Modern scholarship has described her as John Baskerville's "wife, business partner, and former housekeeper". Although long treated mainly as a figure in John Baskerville's biography, she was active in the commercial and domestic world of Easy Hill, Birmingham, and was responsible for preserving and disposing of the Baskerville printing materials after his death.

Early life and first marriage Sarah was born Sarah Ruston, from a family resident in the Deritend area of Birmingham. On 17 August 1724, when she was about sixteen, she married Richard Eaves. The marriage produced five children, but Eaves deserted her, and the couple were legally separated in 1745.

Sarah's role at Easy Hill was not merely domestic. Caroline Archer-Parré has described her as Baskerville's business partner as well as his wife, and notes that Baskerville's will made her the major beneficiary of both money and property. An earlier trust had already secured Easy Hill for Sarah's use, and the will made it "entirely her own", giving her authority over the estate after Baskerville's death.

Death and estate Sarah Baskerville died on 21 March 1788 at her house at Easy Hill, Birmingham.

Selected works with Sarah Baskerville imprint Year Work Imprint note 1775 David Jennings, An Introduction to the Knowledge of Medals "Printed by Sarah Baskerville"; listed in the Grub Street Project and ESTC-linked bibliographical records. 1777 Quintus Horatius Flaccus Listed by the Dictionary of National Biography with the imprint "typis S. Baskerville".