AN APOLOGY FOR THE TRUE CHRISTIAN DIVINITY,
being an explanation and vindication of the principles and doctrines of the people called Quakers. Written in Latin and English, and since translated into High Dutch, Low Dutch, French, and Spanish, for the information of strangers. Pp. [xi]+xiii+504+[16](tables); demy 4to; half calf, with gilt lettered black leather title label on spine, marbled papered boards, lightly rubbed, with a few small surface grazes, the fore-corners worn; marbled edges and matching endpapers; hinges reinforced [not recently] with cloth tape, several minor textual amendments, a few marginal damp stains, scattered light foxing and occasional slight soiling; printed by John Baskerville, Birmingham, 1765. Eighth edition in English [and first Baskerville edition]. Gaskell 30. *Lacking the errata leaf, which Gaskells describes as 'frequently missing', but with an early inked inscription at head of title page: 'The Gift of Mr. David Barclay an immediate Descendant of the Author'. The inscription is undated, but this is perhaps the David Barclay (1729-1809) who was the grandson of the author and who was one of the founders of what eventually became the present-day Barclays Bank. The amendments to the text are all in the same early hand, and they correspond almost exactly to Gaskell's list of the cancel leaves that have been recorded in 'a few copies', so presumably they correct the same errors. Robert Barclay (1648-1690) was an influential Scottish Quaker who served as absentee governor of the East Jersey colony in North America during the 1680s, although he never resided there. First published in 1676, Barclay's book is described in the Dictionary of National Biography as 'one of the most impressive theological writings of the century.' Birmingham printer and typographer John Baskerville (1706-1775) was appointed Printer to the University of Cambridge in 1758. Item #136586
Price: $1,500.00