Antique 1715 John Baskett Holy Bible – King James Version – Gilt Leather Binding with Silver Clasps
An impressive early Georgian Holy Bible, printed in 1715 by John Baskett, Printer to His Majesty King George I, retaining its handsome gilt-decorated leather binding, two substantial silver clasps, gilt page edges and fine engraved architectural frontispiece. Over 310 years old, this is a particularly attractive example of early eighteenth-century English Bible printing, combining considerable historical interest with the character of a well-used family or devotional Bible. The Holy Bible, Containing the Old and New Testaments, newly translated out of the original tongues, and with the former translations diligently compared and revised, by His Majesty's special command.
The Old Testament title page bears the imprint:
Oxford: Printed by John Baskett, Printer to the King's most Excellent Majesty, and the University. MDCCXV (1715).
The New Testament retains its separate London title page, also dated 1715.
The Printer – John Baskett
John Baskett was one of the most important English Bible printers of the early eighteenth century, holding the prestigious position of King's Printer. His editions were produced during the reign of George I and are admired by collectors of early printed English Bibles.
Binding and Decoration
The substantial volume is bound in black leather, with decorative gilt borders to the boards and a spine featuring raised bands, gilt floral ornaments and the title HOLY BIBLE. Two attractive silver-metal clasps secure the fore-edge. The interior retains beautiful green marbled endpapers, together with an elaborate engraved frontispiece depicting the interior of a Gothic cathedral, biblical figures, royal arms and religious symbolism. Throughout the text are decorative woodcut initials, including particularly elaborate pictorial examples.
Historical Ownership
An early handwritten inscription on the Old Testament title page appears to record the name Agnes Sharpe, together with the words “Bought 1719”, this provides an interesting record of ownership dating to just four years after the Bible was printed.
Contents and Condition
The volume retains the Old and New Testaments, their respective title pages and the Biblical index. The Apocrypha is absent, although listed in the original contents. The volume may have been rebound at some point early in its' life, and the Apocrypha may have been deliberately omitted during that process. The binding remains tight and secure, with both boards firmly attached and clean text.
There is age-related rubbing, scuffing and wear to the leather, especially around the spine, extremities and corners. The pages exhibit the expected age toning, occasional staining and handling marks associated with a book of this age.
A handsome and evocative survivor of the early Georgian period, suitable for collectors of antiquarian Bibles, English religious history, early printing and historic bookbindings.
Dimensions: 26.8 × 21.7 cm (approximately 10½ × 8½ inches).
Date: 1715.
Printer: John Baskett, Oxford and London.
Please examine all photographs carefully as they form an important part of the description.
John Baskett was the first of three generations of Bible printers and John Baskett Bibles are very rare and collectable.
John Baskett (1664/5–1742), was the King's Printer for England. His sons, Thomas and Robert, and grandson by the latter, Mark, were also engaged in the press. By purchasing reversion of the King's Printer position, Baskett kept it in the family for the following generations.
The first Bible printed by 'the assigns of Newcomb and Hills' appeared in 1710, and the name of John Baskett was first added to theirs upon a New Testament in 1712. Baskett began to print the Book of Common Prayer in the following year. He was made master of the Company of Stationers in 1714 and again in 1715. Four editions of the Bible (folio, quarto, octavo, and duodecimo) appeared with his imprint in 1715. His next publication was an edition in two volumes, imperial folio, printed at Oxford (the Old Testament in 1717 and New Testament in 1716), a work of great typographical beauty, styled by Dibdin 'the most magnificent' of the Oxford Bibles.
Three copies on vellum have been traced: one in the British Museum, one in the Bodleian Library, and a third formerly at Blenheim. Daniel Prince, writing on 4 June 1795, says: 'Great care was taken to preserve the waste of that book, and indeed of some few others of Baskett's printing worth preserving. About the year 1762 all Basket's stock, &c., was removed to London.
The name of John Baskett is last seen in a New Testament of 1742. He died on 22 June of that year. His sons Thomas and Robert printed the Old Testament in 1743. The name of Thomas alone appears in Bibles after 1744, and the imprint so continued down until 1769. He issued editions of the Prayer Book between 1746 and 1757. We find that 'Mark Baskett and the assigns of Robert Barker' printed two quarto bibles in London in 1761 and 1763, and a folio prayer-book in 1760. With the name of Mark Baskett is connected a remarkable bibliographical mystery. Isaiah Thomas, our chief authority for the history of printing in North America, assures us that 'Kneeland and Green' printed at Boston in about 1752, was the first Bible printed in America in the English language.
The Worshipful Company of Stationers, usually known as the Stationers' Company, is one of the livery companies of the City of London.The Stationers' Company was formed in 1403 and it received a royal charter in 1557. It held a monopoly over the publishing industry and was officially responsible for setting and enforcing regulations until the enactment of the Statute of Anne, also known as the Copyright Act 1710.
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