Description
12mo, pp. [iv], 224. Contemporary sheep, spine divided by gilt rules. A little toned. Some wear to extremities, a bit of surface damage to rear board.
£200
12mo, pp. [iv], 224. Contemporary sheep, spine divided by gilt rules. A little toned. Some wear to extremities, a bit of surface damage to rear board.
The Rev Thomas Wills (1740-1802) was a preacher whose 'presence inspired such awe that a biographer wrote that when he appeared in the midst of thousands of plunderers at a shipwreck his influence persuaded them to save the cargo for its owners rather than walk off with it.' (ODNB) This is the first surviving edition, with no copies of the first recorded in ESTC or Worldcat. The preface to this book, dated November in the year of publication, states that the text was 'only intended for private use; but is now... made public, for more general and extensive service.' it is possible that a few copies were earlier printed for private circulation, thus justifying the edition statement here.
The author continued the work in further volumes in 1787 and 1795, all of which are now rare, with ESTC recording 9 total copies across 5 printings in 4 institutions, this one in the BL and William Jewell College only. This copy appears never to have had a portrait; it is unclear on what basis ESTC calls for one.