The Holy Bible,

Baskerville's 'magnum opus'

This edition 'has always been regarded as Baskerville's magnum opus, and is his most magnificent as well as his most characteristic specimen' (T.B. Reed, A History of the Old English Letter Foundries, p.279).

The first edition, first state, with the list of subscribers ending in 'Winwood', of this finely-produced pulpit folio King James Bible from the workshop of the master printer and type-founder John Baskerville (1706-1775).

Baskerville became a writing master at Birmingham but in 1740 established a japanning business, whose profits enabled him to experiment in typography. He set up a printing house and in 1757 published his first work, an edition of Virgil, followed in 1758 by an edition of John Milton. Appointed printer to the University of Cambridge, he undertook this edition of the Bible in 1763, which is considered his masterpiece. He published an edition of Horace in 1762; the success of a second edition (1770) encouraged him to issue a series of editions of Latin authors.

The bold quality of Baskerville's print derived from his use of a highly glossed paper and a truly black ink that he had invented. His typography was much criticised in England, and after his death his types were purchased by the French dramatist Pierre-Augustin Caron de Beaumarchais. Their subsequent history is uncertain but in 1917 the surviving punches and matrices were recognised, and in 1953 they were presented to the University of Cambridge. Baskerville type has been revived, its clarity and balance making it a good type for continuous reading.

First edition, first state, with list of subscribers ending in 'Winwood'; pulpit folio (48.5 x 33.5 cm); xylographic title, ownership stamp to title verso, bookplates to front pastedown and free endpaper recto, inserted f. at front free endpapers containing MS family register, loose transcript of 'A Letter from John Baskerville', occasional minor spotting, later endpapers; contemporary red morocco, covers with floral girl border and corner-pieces, gilt spine in 8 compartments, contrasting black morocco lettering-pieces to 2nd and 7th compartments, skilfully rebacked preserving the original spine which has been laid-down, all edges gilt, slightly rubbed and abraded, a very good example.

ESTC T93106; Herbert 1146; DM 857.