Robert Barker (printer)
Robert Barker | |
|---|---|
| Died | 1643 |
| Occupation | Printer |
| Known for | Official printer to James I; King James Bible; Wicked Bible |
Robert Barker (d. 1643) served as the official printer to James I of England and was the son of Christopher Barker, who printed for Queen Elizabeth I. He is predominantly recognized for producing the King James Bible, a seminal work in the English language. Alongside his co-publisher Martin Lucas, Barker was also responsible for the infamous "Wicked Bible", which contained a critical typographical omission—the word not was left out from the commandment "Thou shalt not commit adultery."
Printing career
Barker entered his father's printing enterprise in 1589 and took over ownership of the press by 1599. His portfolio primarily encompassed official documents such as prayer books, biblical texts, and legal publications.
King James Bible
The inaugural edition of the King James Bible was printed by Barker in 1611. Although it is often called the "Authorized" version, it did not receive formal royal endorsement, despite some interest from the king. Barker bore all financial responsibility for its production but saw only modest monetary gain, while securing enduring recognition for his work. The initial print exhibited inconsistent quality, utilized a substandard blackletter font, and contained numerous errors that were addressed in subsequent editions.
The Wicked Bible
In 1631, Barker and Martin Lucas, both serving as royal printers, released what was meant to be an accurate reprint of the King James Bible. However, this edition became notorious for omitting "not" in Exodus 20:14's prohibition against adultery. The resulting backlash included a £300 penalty and the revocation of their printing privileges. This blunder drew sharp condemnation from King Charles I and Archbishop George Abbot, who expressed concern over deteriorating standards in printing:
Following a royal mandate, Barker and Lucas faced the Star Chamber; the entire print batch was recalled and destroyed. Only a few copies are known to have survived to the present day.
Imprisonment
Barker was incarcerated in 1635. Despite operating what had potential to be a profitable venture, his insufficient business skills combined with the fallout from the Wicked Bible incident—including the imposed fine—led to his legal difficulties. Ultimately, Barker did not realize financial success from his printing endeavors and passed away in debtors' prison in 1643.
Further reading
- Plomer, Henry R. A Short History of English Printing 1476–1898. London: Bibliographical Society, 1900