Landmark Books in All Fields
ItemID: #124193
Cost: $2,800.00

Book of Common Prayer

Baskerville

“BASKERVILLE’S BOOKS WERE UNUSUALLY BEAUTIFUL”

(BASKERVILLE, John). The Book of Common Prayer… Together with the Psalter or Psalms of David… Cambridge: by John Baskerville and B. Dod, 1762. Octavo, contemporary full red polished morocco, elaborately gilt-decorated spine and covers, raised bands, marbled endpapers, all edges gilt. $2800.

Beautifully bound third octavo edition of Baskerville’s Book of Common Prayer.

"The language of the Prayer Book is now part of the whole language… and as a source of spiritual inspiration, it is for most Englishmen second only to the Bible" (PMM 75). Given John Baskerville's stated interest in printing not "many books; but such only, as are of consequence, of intrinsic merit, or established Reputation, and which the public may be pleased to see in elegant dress," (Art of the Printed Book, 26), it is little wonder that he included the Book of Common Prayer (first published 1549) among that elect company. There were three octavo Baskerville editions of the Book of Common Prayer between 1760 and 1762. This copy is the third edition of 1762; with cancels at a2, B8, C6, D3 to update the monarch's name to Queen Charlotte. With the "occasional prayers" sometimes lacking in the third edition. The prayers for the Royal Family are in a third state, reading, "our gracious Queen Charlotte, her Royal Highness the Princess Dowager of Wales, and all the Royal Family." Gaskell 19. Engraved armorial bookplate of Lord North, Earl of Guilford—likely that of Frederick North, who served as Prime Minister during the Revolutionary War.

Only occasional spotting to text. Joints and extremities very lightly rubbed, binding sound and beautiful, gilt bright. An excellent copy of this edition from the renowned Baskerville Press, with a distinguished provenance.

Main Office & Gallery: 1608 Walnut Street, 19th Floor .::. Philadelphia, PA 19103 .::. 215-546-6466 .::. fax 215-546-9064
web: www.baumanrarebooks.com .::. email: [email protected]