Description

12mo., Second Edition, on laid paper, with engraved frontispiece [but bound without the plates sometimes present at the head of each of the four books], neat eighteenth century signature on title, some moderate age-staining throughout; attractively bound in eighteenth century full calf, sides with double frame border in gilt enclosing floral frame border stopped at corners with decorative spray, back with five raised bands, all compartments richly framed and tooled in gilt, doublures tooled in blind, all edges gilt, marbled endpapers, expertly rebacked with old backstrip laid down, corners bruised, a very good, tight copy in sympathetically restored period binding. With two nineteenth century inscriptions recording circumstances of ownership on blank preliminary. The engraved frontispiece of the Crucifixion is by Van der Gucht. Stanhope's translation of Kempis's spiritual classic first appeared in the previous year. In this paraphrastic rendering the pithy style of the original is presented as flowing sentences more in tune with eighteenth century taste. The edition was continually reprinted during the next 150 years, and in 1886 Henry Morley edited it for Lubbock's 'One Hundred Books'. The first three editions are very scarce, especially in contemporary or period bindings.