EARLY EDINBURGH EDITION OF THE KING JAMES BIBLE, 1726, ISSUED WITH PSALMS OF DAVID IN METRE, IN LOVELY CONTEMPORARY SCOTTISH BINDING

BIBLE. The Holy Bible, Containing the Old Testament and the New: Newly Translated out of the Original Tongues. Edinburgh: John Baskett, 1726. Quarto, contemporary full black morocco, elaborately gilt-tooled spine and covers, raised bands, marbled endpapers, all edges gilt. $4800.

First Baskett King James Bible with an Edinburgh imprint, in very handsome contemporary Scottish morocco-gilt binding.

The King James Bible, first published in 1611, is described as "the only literary masterpiece ever to be produced by a committee and was the work of nearly fifty translators… [who] lived at a period when the genius of the language was in full flower." "Apparently the earliest Edinburgh Bible which bears J. Baskett's name on the title page" (Darlow & Moule). Baskett had obtained a commission in 1717 as royal printer for Scotland, following the General Assembly's action "to get printing, vending and importing of the incorrect copies of the Holy Scriptures stopped and prevented" (Herbert, 247). Set in Roman type in double columns and illustrated with woodcut royal arms on the title pages (general and separate New Testament title page). Bound without Apocrypha. This copy in a handsome Scottish binding of contemporary full black morocco with an elaborately gilt-tooled spine and covers. Darlow & Moule 759. Herbert 975.

Expert restoration to spine ends. A lovely Bible in contemporary Scottish morocco-gilt, with only light age-wear, in excellent condition.