The “John Basket 1738” refers to King James Bible editions printed by the prominent British King’s Printer, John Baskett. During the 18th century, his printing house at the University Press in Oxford published majestic, large-folio Bibles used as presentation or lectern pieces in churches and upper-class homes.
Key Details & Background
- The Printer: John Baskett successfully acquired the lucrative patent to print Bibles in England in the early 1700s, producing lavish editions with decorative engravings and initials.
- 1738 Editions: These specific printings typically combined several foundational religious texts into a single massive volume. They frequently included the Book of Common Prayer, the Apocrypha, and indexing/concordance tools.
