The Holy Bible containing the Old Testament and the New. Oxford: John Baskett, 1717.
This sumptuous large folio edition of the King James Bible is printed in large type illustrated with numerous plates engraved on steel from the designs of various artists.
John Baskett (d. 1742) dominated the printing of Bibles in the early-eighteenth century. He was sworn Queen’s Printer in 1712 (a lifetime appointment) and in 1713 secured the lease (with two others) of printer to Oxford University. It was here that he issued what has become known as the ‘Vinegar Bible’ from the chapter heading error in Luke 20 which reads ‘The Parable of the Vinegar’ rather than ‘The Parable of the Vineyard’.
Unfortunately, this edition contained many misprints and thus earned the nickname A Baskett-ful of Errors. Modern historians of printing have been more forgiving, praising the clarity of the type and the use of high-quality paper in the book’s production.
The Holy Bible containing the Old Testament and the New. Oxford: John Baskett, 1717.
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