1717 "Vinegar" KJV Bible Elephant Folio, Type A Variant, Herbert 942

An authentic original elephant folio edition of the legendary “Vinegar Bible”, printed in Oxford by John Baskett in 1716–1717, and universally regarded as one of the most famous misprinted books in the history of English printing.

This monumental church Bible is historically known for the celebrated typographical error in Luke 20, where the chapter heading famously reads:

“The Parable of the Vinegar”
instead of
“The Parable of the Vineyard”

This error, a single missing letter and single misprint,  immortalized the edition and gave rise to its enduring nickname: the Vinegar Bible.

The present example is the large pulpit folio format, produced specifically for ecclesiastical use, and intended to rest permanently on church pulpits. These were luxury productions, printed on heavy laid paper, with large typography, engraved illustrations, and full canonical contents including the Apocrypha.

This edition is bibliographically recorded as Herbert 942.

Publication Details:

• Printer: John Baskett

• Imprint: Oxford

• Date: 1716–1717

• Format: Pulpit Folio

• Language: English

• Contents:

  • Old Testament

  • Apocrypha

  • New Testament

• Illustrations: Copperplate engravings and decorative plates

• Paper: Heavy laid paper

• Typography: Period Baskett type.

• Binding: Sympathetic rebind. Original binding held in place with a more modern under layering of canvas.

Historical Significance:

The Vinegar Bible stands as one of the most famous printing errors ever produced in English literature. Ironically, this edition was intended to be a prestige royal Bible, printed under royal patent authority and commissioned as an official church Bible yet it became notorious for its numerous typographical errors.

In addition to the famous “Vinegar/Vineyard” error, the edition is known for multiple compositional mistakes throughout the text, making it one of the most error-filled prestige Bibles ever printed.

Today, original folio examples are held in major institutional collections including:

• National libraries

• University special collections

• Church archives

• Museum rare book holdings

• Major private collections

The Vinegar Bible is widely regarded as a cornerstone artefact in the history of English printing, biblical publishing, and typographical scholarship.

John Baskett, The Printer:

John Baskett (1675–1742) was one of the most important royal printers of early 18th-century England. He held the title:

“Printer to the King’s Most Excellent Majesty”

and operated under royal patent authority in Oxford.

Baskett was known for producing large-format, prestige Bibles intended for official church use, often lavishly illustrated and richly printed. His editions were among the most ambitious Bible printings of the period, combining luxury presentation with royal authorization.

The Vinegar Bible represents both the height of Baskett’s ambition and the most famous failure in his printing career, becoming historically legendary due to its errors. Despite this, Baskett’s productions remain critically important in the history of English typography, royal printing privileges, and early modern publishing.

Bibliographic Reference:

Herbert 942

Importance to Collectors:

This edition is universally recognized as:

• One of the most famous misprinted books in history

• One of the most collectible King James Bible editions

• A cornerstone piece in biblical bibliography

• A highly sought artefact in printing history

• A centrepiece item for museum collections

• A major object of interest for rare book investors

Collectibility & Market Standing:

Original pulpit folio Vinegar Bibles are:

• Rare in complete form

• Highly sought after

• Actively collected internationally

• Traded through major auction houses

• Held in institutional collections

• Regarded as museum-grade artefacts

Values vary significantly depending on condition, completeness, binding, and provenance.

Summary:

An original 1716–1717 John Baskett “Vinegar Bible” pulpit folio (Herbert 942), Oxford imprint one of the most famous misprinted books in the English language, and one of the most historically important King James Bible editions ever produced.

This is not merely an old Bible it is a landmark artefact in the history of printing, religion, and English literature.