A wonderfully-preserved first edition of the “price fixing” Bible, and with the original bookplate of Charles R. Baskett of the Isle of Wight. Also a small article tipped indicating this was formerly part of the collection of Ralph William Cole, known as the man of a million books and one of the most insatiable bibliophiles of the early 20th century.

Prior to 1724, there had been significant price gouging happening in the Bible market. The text was being purchased and then bound by individual booksellers, etc. and, especially in rural villages, exorbitant prices were being fetched. It became a sort of capitalistically driven de fact anti-reformation, practically prohibiting access to the Scriptures because of price.

As a result, Parliament passed and aAct, and this the very first Bible printed under that Act, that required the price of the unbound sheets to be printed directly on the title page, as it is here, “Price Six Shillings Unbound.”  Darlow and Moule 756

The Holy Bible Containing the Old Testament and the New: Newly Translated Out of the Original Tongues and With the Former Translations Diligently Compared and Revised. London. John Baskett. 1725.

Very handsome polish black leather with geometric paneled tooling as shown, raised bands and tooled compartments, finished off with fine silver hasps and claps. One rear hasp has small loss at point. Title and text all ruled in red. Textually very good. Small section through leather on lower front hinge.