The Holy Bible, Containing the Old Testament and the New: Newly Translated out of the Original Tongues: And with the former Translations Diligently Compared and Revised. By His Majesties Special Command. Appointed to be Read in Churches, Oxford: John Baskett, 1717-1716.
“THE MOST MAGNIFICENT BIBLE EVER PRODUCED IN ENGLAND”
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John Baskett’s Vinegar Bible, published in 1716-1717, so named because of Baskett’s infamous errors throughout (“a Baskett-full of errors”), including the headline ‘the parable of the vinegar’ instead of the parable of the vineyard in Luke XX giving its famous name. It is the origin of the term ‘basket case’, originally a Baskett case.
John Baskett wished to produce an incredibly high quality Bible for use of the aristocracy in a very large folio edition which could be used as a status symbol for the elite. Baskett's masterpiece is generally acknowledged as the most magnificent Bible ever printed in England. It is adorned with numerous beautiful engraved head and tailpieces depicting Biblical scenes by the master Louis Cheron (1655-1725). His prints for the Baskett Vinegar Bible were among his most important and beautiful works as an illustrator, and reproductions of these prints are incredibly difficult to find.
Both the O.T. and N.T. are in Herbert variant B, the much rarer variant of the two first edition variants, usually found in mixed states, this copy is just of variant B and thus highly desirable with all of Baskett's errors uncorrected, including the 'vinegar' misprint to Luke XX header as pictured.
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Size: 320 x 500 mm (approx.)
*note this is very (very) large
Condition:
[(2), frontis, t.p., a1-b2, c1, A1-Z6, 2A1-2Z6, 3A1-3Z6, 4A1-4Q3, t.p., [A1]-[Y4], (2)]
18th century blindstamped panelled reverse calf, attractive, with some minor historic restorations relaying the leather of the backstrip with extremities of the backstrip reattached, some leather reglued. Very attractive nonetheless. Both boards are securely attached, the binding is secure, and without shelf lean. Hinges cracked. Bookplate to front pastedown of a Victorian bookseller and binder, perhaps the one responsible for the backstrip restoration. Original owner's label historically removed from front board, leaving mild discolouration. Binding rubbed with some discolouration in places, wear to corners.
Collates as complete, including the original blanks. Main title page and frontispiece remounted, the title mounted in sections, preserving all of the text and engravings. A beautiful edition with very fine engraved head and tail pieces. First blank present but detached, folded at inner edge. Extensive wormholing to the upper right of the final leaves of the New Testament, starting to effect the text at [T2], but even to the end leaves of Revelation, the text does not lose sense, despite some loss to the text. Throughout the majority of the text, it is exceptionally well preserved, bright, and fully legible. Some light dampstaining to a few leaves, but generally clean.
[D&M 735; Herbert 942; ESTC T89281].
