MID-18TH CENTURY BOOK OF COMMON PRAYER IN LOVELY GEORGE II BINDING

(BOOK OF COMMON PRAYER). The Book of Common Prayer… London: Thomas Baskett… and the assigns of Robert Baskett, 1754. Tall folio (10-1/2 by 16-1/2 inches), full contemporary dark green morocco rebacked with elaborately gilt-decorated spine laid down, with crowned monogram of George II in compartments, covers with elaborately gilt-tooled borders and gilt centerpiece featuring the arms of King George II, raised bands, later marbled endpapers, evidence of silk ties. $7500.

Splendid folio Baskett edition of the Book of Common Prayer in a beautiful armorial George II binding, with broad gilt-tooled borders, elaborate royal cypher in spine panels and splendid gilt centerpiece on each cover featuring the arms of King George II, with fine engraved frontispiece depicting St. Paul’s Cathedral, by J. Mynde, and text hand-ruled in red throughout.

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). This finely printed London edition—set in large type with wide margins and hand-ruled in red throughout—boasts an impressive royal binding bearing the gilt monogram and crown device of King George II in the spine compartments and his gilt embossed armorial design on both boards, within an ornate floral border. Griffiths 1754:1. Owner signature.

Some faint foxing, a very few leaves with light edge-wear, faint crease to corner of frontispiece. Expert restoration to lovely royal binding.