It was the cause of?great controversy in 17th-century Britain – all?thanks to a single typo that seemingly encouraged infidelity.
This is the “Wicked Bible” of 1631, so called because the printers omitted the word “not” in the Seventh Commandment so that it reads: “Thou shalt commit adultery”. The?offending passage, from Exodus 20:14, is pictured.
The book was co-published by Robert Barker, printer of the first edition of the King James Bible. As one of the royal printers, the mistake drew the attention and scorn of Charles I (pictured) and the Archbishop of Canterbury.
Barker and fellow publisher Martin Lucas were heavily fined and all?1,000 copies of the?Wicked Bible were ordered to be destroyed.
It is thought that only a small number remain in?existence, including this example at Leicester.
Send suggestions for this series on the treasures, oddities and curiosities owned by universities across the world to matthew.reisz@tsleducation.com