This exhibit focusses on a 1631 King James Bible printed in London by Robert Barker, commonly known as the Wicked Bible. The book contains a typo within the ten commandments that condones adultery. Due to the typo, King James VI ordered all copies of this printing to be burned, only eleven known copies remain.
This exhibit will discuss the bible itself, the famous typo, and make note of a second typo referring to the Lord’s “greatasse.” It will also focus on the relations between the King’s printers, specifically Robert Barker and Bonham Norton. It will briefly discuss Robert Barker’s life and what happened to him because of the omitted word, not. It will also touch on another famously incorrect bible also printed by Robert Barker, the Judas/Breeches Bible. The exhibit will conclude with a section on how the typo may have occurred, whether it be sabotage or by mistake.