Library — 1717
The book of common prayer and administration of the sacraments and other rites and ceremonies
In the 18th and early 19th centuries London was one of the world's largest printing and book publishing centres. London's booksellers clustered around St Paul's Churchyard and along Fleet Street.
As Londoners' wealth and leisure time increased, and opportunities for education grew, so too did their appetite for books, newspapers and magazines.
First officially set out in 1544, and then given its final form in 1662, the Book of Common Prayer is made of the Church of England's prayers and church services. This Book of Common Prayer published in 1717 is very unusual. Not only is it beautifully illustrated throughout, but its text is engraved. At the time book text was usually printed using printer's type; engraving text was an intricate and time-consuming process. The engraver, John Sturt (1658-1730), was so skilled that it was claimed he could engrave the whole of the Christian creed on the back of a small coin. Sturt had a drawing school near St Paul's Churchyard.
- Category:
- Library
- Object ID:
- A15364
- Object name:
- The book of common prayer and administration of the sacraments and other rites and ceremonies
- Object type:
- Artist/Maker:
- Church of England, Sturt, John
- Related people:
- Related events:
- Related places:
- Production date:
- 1717
- Material:
paper, ink
- Measurements/duration:
- H 207 mm, W 130 mm (overall)
- Part of:
- —
- On display:
- —
- Record quality:
- 100%
- Part of this object:
- —
- Owner Status & Credit:
Permanent collection
- Copyright holder:
digital image © London Museum
- Image credit:
- —
- Creative commons usage:
- —
- License this image:
To license this image for commercial use, please contact the London Museum Picture Library.