Green’s Dictionary of Slang

the best, the choicest on offer.

1874		Bell’s Life in London 26 Dec. n.p.: The pick of the basket, a compact young greyhound [F&H].
1878		World (N.Y.) in Ware (1909) 195/2: Some of Sir Watkin’s horses are of extraordinary build and value. Comet stands out foremost, and ‘is the pick of the basket’.
1900		Punch Jan. 34/1: Hail, best of our free-lance laughing men, most admirable Punch, / Amidst our Fleet Street favourites the pick of all the bunch!
1900		Sporting Times 17 Feb. 2/5: ‘A Visit to the Studio,’ arranged by Solomon J. Solomon, was to my mind the pick of the basket.
1908		‘Doss Chiderdoss’ ‘A Consistent Consort’ Sporting Times 13 June 1/3: I don’t say that my Edwin’s exactly the pick / Of the basket, he’d capture no cake.