[Bible]. 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. By His Majesty’s Command. Appointed to be Read in Churches. 2 Vols. Main title page: Oxford, Printed by John Baskett, Printer to the King’s most Excellent Majesty, for Great Britain; and to the University. MDCCXVII. (1717). The so-called “Vinegar Bible.” Contains 4 title leaves. First 2 titles are at the front of Vol I: The main title leaf, the source of the publication information above, has a partial-page engraving of an Oxford street scene. Facing Vol I’s main title page is Darlowe & Moule’s State “A” secondary title page, which has the appearance of a frontis. “…engraved by Du-Bose, represents Moses writing the first words of Genesis; below is the imprint ‘Printed by Jno. Baskett at the Clarendon Printing-House in Oxford.’“ –Darlowe & Moule 735. Vol I’s State A title page is undated, and its title ends after 3 words (THE HOLY BIBLE). 3rd title page is at the front of Vol II, and is the state B additional title page (Darlowe & Moule 736). This state “B” title is dated 1716 (in Roman numerals) and features a full-page engraving by Sturt showing a Church interior, with the type flanked by Moses and Aaron, and a vignette of the last supper at bottom center. The 4th title page is that for the New Testament, also 1716 in Roman numerals. Collation, Vol I: [State A title], [main title], [dedication leaf signed (*)],Kalendar *[1]-*2, “The Translatours to the Reader” a[1]-b[2], [c1], text A[1]-3E[1], in 6’s where not otherwise noted, ending after Song of Songs. In some copies of Vol I, the 5-leaf preface headed “The Translatours to the Reader” appears before, and sometimes after the 2-leaf Kalendar. Here, “The Translatours to the Reader” appears after The Kalendar. The catchword on the verso of the dedication leaf (“The”) is nevertheless the same as it would be for a copy where “The Translatours…” appears before the Kalendar. (The first page of The Kalendar is headed “Proper Lessons,” creating a mismatching catchword, given the order in which the preliminary leaves appear in this copy.) Collation, Vol II: [State B title], 3E2-[4P6], 4Q[1]-[4Q3],[4Q4 serves as NT title] A[1]-[X6], [Y1]-[Y4], in 6’s where not otherwise noted. Most signatures are signed in the usual manner, i.e. “Mmmm 3” for 4M3, usually on the first 3 leaves of any given signature. Unpaginated. Large folio. Often found in full black leather with a 9-panel spine— given that this binding has occurred on other sets of the Vinegar Bible, this binding was probably arranged for by a bookseller who purchased the sheets for a large number of Vinegar Bibles from Baskett. Multiple gilt rules on covers, the outer rules rimmed with 8 additional gilt ornaments. Diamond-shaped gilt ornament at the center of each cover. Marbled eps, gilt edges. Covers separated with some scuffing. Corners/edges of covers are worn resulting in some loss to the gilt dentelle. The covers and texts nevertheless remain attractive. Interiors are very good plus. Occasional dampstain (affecting upper portion of NT title and last 2 leaves of the Old Testament)-- in most cases noticeable only because of the high quality paper Baskett chose to use for printing. Occasional marginal tear (affecting margin of the 3d title page, at front of Vol II). Vol I: Slightest wear to upper edge of some preliminary leaves, marginal chip to 2nd leaf of The Kalendar. 2Q3 has a tear along inner border (between text and inner margin, with an old, partial repair). R6v and 2Y[1] have marginal repair. Marginal chipping to lower corner of 2M6 and to Ecclesiastes and Song of Songs (at rear of Vol I). Vol II has marginal creasing and chip to a 13-leaf interval from 3E5-3G5. Several chapters later, still in Jeremiah, are a couple gatherings where there is considerable creasing with several marginal tears, slightly overlapping text at upper corner. Marginal chip to a few leaves from 3Q5 to signature 3T (1 repaired), as well as 4A2. Leaf 4L6 has a tear along lower rule. Front pastedowns have engraved armorial bookplate with name "Ernst L. S. Benzon," eagle, and motto "Per Aspera Ad Astra." In the content of the Bible itself, the text has a single red rule above and below. Text is flanked by a double red rule to its left and right, and between the text’s two columns (as in Darlowe & Moule’s description of State “B”). Occasional bleeding of red ink to the other side of a leaf (visible, for instance, in I Kings headpiece)—doubtless a normal occurrence for the ink that was used. The main title page and the Kalendar have their lettering printed in red and black. Near the end of the text, the tailpieces tend to omit the artist and engravers’ names. The tailpieces of Ephesians and I. Timothy have the artist and engravers’ names neatly handwritten. “A magnificent edition, printed in large type.” –Darlow & Moule. The head and tailpieces are “engraved on steel [actually copper] from the designs of various artists. Some of the initial letters are similarly engraved. Unfortunately the book contained many misprints, and earned the nickname A Baskett-ful of Errors…” –Darlowe & Moule. Acts III, v. XXIV: “Yea, and the prophets from Samuel, and all those that follow after, as many have spoken, have likewise foretold of these days.” Acts IV, v. XXIV has “had” for “heard.” By far the most famous of the many errors is “The Parable of the Vinegar” in the headline of Luke XX instead of “The Parable of the Vineyard” (verso of Q6), thus the moniker “The Vinegar Bible.” Grand total of 151 engravings & letters: 4 engravings on title pages (2 full-page & 2 partial-page), 31 headpieces, 34 tailpieces, and 82 decorative engraved letters. (Occasional repetition. For instance, the tailpiece of Bel and Romans appears many times and is counted as a tailpiece each time it appears.) The nature of the head- and tail-pieces ranges from Bible scenes to ornaments to what Darlowe & Moule 736 refer to as “allegorical” images inspired by Greek mythology, often combining all three of those tendencies. Engravings include: - Adam & Eve with various animals (headpiece). – Moses & Aaron performing a ceremony with smoke and tents in the background and a sacrificial lamb being brought over from the far right (Leviticus headpiece). – Stoning (with Roman-inspired statues at left and right, Lev. Tailpiece). – A chaotic scene with panicked Israelites; at center are Moses, Aaron, and a staff with a snake coiled around it (Numbers headpiece). – Headpiece emphasizing the rays of light that emanate from Moses’s head (Deuteronomy) – Donkey and rider surrounded by soldiers (Judges headpiece). – Chaotic scene related to the rebellion of Moab, which features an angry king, a snake coiled around a staff, and a man being beaten to death (II Kings headpiece). – Boat in stormy waters, with a man overboard being attacked by an ocean moster (Malachi tailpice, related to judgement of the wicked). – Maccabean rebellion scene, with a soldier on horseback, in front of a POW being impaled (II Maccabees tailpiece). – Holy water (Ephesians tailpiece). – Liberation of an apostle from prison (II Peter tailpiece).