1760 FIRST OCTAVO BASKERVILLE EDITION OF THE BOOK OF COMMON PRAYER, BEAUTIFULLY BOUND AND PRINTED

BASKERVILLE. The Book of Common Prayer, And Administration of the Sacraments, and other Rites and Ceremonies of the Church, According to the Use of the Church of England: Together with the Psalter or Psalms of David, Printed as they are to be sung or said in Churches. Cambridge and London: John Baskerville and B. Dod, 1760. Large octavo, contemporary full brown calf rebacked with original elaborately gilt-tooled spine laid down, raised bands, marbled endpapers, all edges gilt.

First octavo Baskerville edition of the Book of Common Prayer, beautifully printed and handsomely bound.

Born of Thomas Cranmer’s desire for liturgical texts upon which all of Europe’s Protestant, English-speaking churches could agree, the Book of Common Prayer, first issued in 1549, with its magisterial liturgical language is, “as a source of spiritual inspiration… for most Englishmen second only to the Bible” (PMM 75). Baskerville aspired to print “¬ 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).

Text beautifully printed with the “lozenge and star” border which was Baskerville’s favorite. This copy belongs to Group I of the first of three Baskerville octavo editions of the prayer book (title page dated 1760, with border and price “Six Shillings and Six Pence”). Complete with the “occasional prayers” (leaves x1-bb2 and 2N1-2Q4) issued with only a part of the edition. Baskerville issued his Book of Common Prayer at the time of the death of George II and the accession of George III (October 25, 1760). As a result, a number of prayers referring to the Royal Family were reset to reflect these events. Gaskell, in his bibliography of Baskerville, lists leaves B8, C6, C7 and D2 as appearing in two states: this copy has those leaves in the earlier state, with references to George as the Prince of Wales. Includes the rare state of quire 2P (prayer for October 25). Gaskell 12. Griffiths 1760:4. Contemporary owner inscription to title page. Old pencil annotations to preliminary pages.

Scattered faint foxing, occasional soiling, light marginal dampstaining to second half of text block. Expert restoration to extremities of beautiful contemporary morocco gilt binding..