Pocket or Purse Prayer Books
From the very beginning of the prayer book era personal size prayer books for church and home had been printed and their printing continues uninterrupted down to the present. Many of these have been found with personal histories indicating family use not unlike the family Bible. Few survive in major collections today. Master printers Charles Bill and John Baskett produced exquisite personal-size prayer books like the ones displayed for the wealthy. It was not until the early 19th century, with the advent of publishers’ binding, circa 1825, which were made of inexpensive materials other than leather, i.e. cloth, that it became possible for almost anyone to own one.
