The Donnithorne-Christchurch ‘Wicked Bible’ Technical and Bibliographic Report
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The Donnithorne-Christchurch Wicked Bible is a rare anthology volume consisting of four separate religious texts, each printed by a different London printer. Most notable is the Holy Bible printed in 1631 by Robert Barker and the assigns of John Bill, which contains one of history’s most infamous typograph- ical errors, the omission of ‘not’ from Exodus 20:14. This report contains a bibliographic and technical description of the volume. It details its physical attributes, including measurements, pagination, imprint area, collation, notable damage and errors and its red ruling. Red ruling is an unusual feature only present in five of the twenty-five known copies of the Wicked Bible. The report also discusses the conservation efforts used to preserve and restore this particular volume, including binding strengthening, the use of conservation boards and the cleaning and treatment of water damage and discolouration. Using this volume as a case study, the report investigates 17th-century English printing techniques and materials to provide insights into the methods that may have been employed by the various printers involved in the production process, including typecasting, compositing, pressing, inks and red ruling. In addition, the rarity and provenance of the Donnithorne-Christchurch Wicked Bible as well as its historical context are explored. This involves summarising the economic and legal struggles that shaped Robert Barker’s business strategies and printing methodologies, and the impact these had on his career and the broader landscape of English printing