The Works of that Learned and Judicious Divine, Mr. Richard Hooker, with an Account of his Life and Death, by Isaac Walton. Arranged by the Rev. John Keble
Oxford, Oxford University Press, 1845 (third edition)/ 1836 (first thus).
Octavo, three volumes, [iv], cxiv (last blank), 488; [ii], 610; and [ii], 755 pages plus a folding family tree and a folding sheet of facsimiles of Hooker's handwriting.
Contemporary full calf, the spines gilt in compartments, with contrasting leather title-labels; calf moderately scuffed, with a few scrapes and scratches (and a few small light stains to the rear cover of the second volume); endpapers a little foxed and offset; a few trifling marks and two marginal annotations to the second volume; a very good set (internally fine).
Mounted on the front pastedown of each volume is a bookplate stating that 'This book was given by the Associates of the late Rev. Dr. Bray, to the Clerical Lending Library of Adelaide ... Australia ... 1846' (the last three words written in ink). Each rear pastedown has a large plate outlining the 'Rules for the Preservation of Dr. Bray's Lending Libraries'. The foot of each spine has a gilt oval stamp ('Library of Dr Bray's Associates'), numbered within the oval 67, 68, and 69 respectively. There are call numbers in white ink on each spine, and an ink stamp and acquisition number on each title page. Once this accessioning work was finished, it looks like the books were then put on the shelves and never opened again. Dr Thomas Bray (1656-1730) was an English clergyman and abolitionist, who created a system of parochial libraries in England and the American colonies during his lifetime. One of the aims was to assist the spread of the Anglican Church in the British colonies. The work continued well into the nineteenth century, attested to by these volumes, given to the fledgling settlement of Adelaide less than a decade after the colony of South Australia was establishment. Loosely inserted in the first volume is a contemporaneous autograph letter (duodecimo, one page, 15 September) signed (by Villus? Butler?). It is addressed to 'My dear Lord Bishop', asking him for 'a few lines to the Bishop of Melbourne ... to take with me' (presumably as a letter of introduction). Augustus Short (1802-1883) was consecrated the first Bishop of Adelaide in June 1847; he arrived in the colony on 28 December that year. In November 1881 failing health compelled him to resign his see ('Australian Dictionary of Biography'). [3 items].
Item #89372
Price (AUD):
$750.00