John Bunyan's Holy War, C.1860s Leather Bound Deluxe Edition, W/ Inscriptions
$ 102.04
Description
Item Description An exceptionally attractive mid-Victorian edition of John Bunyan’s The Holy War , published by the Religious Tract Society, London , circa 1865 , and preserved in a deluxe original green leather binding with elaborate gilt tooling and a raised-band spine . This is a presentation copy , with dated Victorian inscriptions, and includes the original engraved illustrations. A fine example of a higher-grade Religious Tract Society binding, far superior to the more common cloth issues. Bibliographic Details Author: John Bunyan (1628–1688) Title: The Holy War, Made by Shaddai upon Diabolus Publisher: The Religious Tract Society Place: London Date: c.1865 Imprint: Depositories, 56 Paternoster Row; 65 St. Paul’s Churchyard; and 164 Piccadilly Format: Octavo Binding: Original full green leather, elaborately gilt-tooled boards, raised bands with gilt compartments to spine Illustrations: Engraved frontispiece and additional full-page plates See Condition section and photos above Transcription of Inscriptions Upper inscription (dated presentation): Mrs. Crawford with the best wishes of Bernard Chawner. March 22nd, 1865. Lower inscription (later memorial inscription): Mrs. Finch in memory of Mr. Crawford October 10th, 1878 Hatfield. These inscriptions provide a clear and touching provenance, tracing the book’s ownership from its original presentation in 1865 through later family remembrance. History of This Edition The Religious Tract Society (founded 1799) was one of the most important evangelical publishers of the 19th century, responsible for bringing classic Christian works to a wide Victorian readership. While most RTS books were issued in cloth, the Society also produced deluxe leather bindings for presentation, prize, or gift purposes. These bindings were made to a higher standard, with rich gilt decoration and raised-band spines, and were significantly more expensive at the time of issue. The imprint listing three London depositories (Paternoster Row, St. Paul’s Churchyard, and Piccadilly) firmly dates this edition to the late 1850s–mid 1860s , making the March 1865 presentation inscription entirely consistent with the book’s publication period. About John Bunyan John Bunyan (1628–1688) was one of the most influential writers in English literature and a central figure in Puritan spirituality. Best known for The Pilgrim’s Progress , he wrote The Holy War in 1682 as a powerful allegory of the human soul, represented by the town of Mansoul , contested by the forces of evil and redeemed by Emmanuel (Christ). The Holy War is considered Bunyan’s most complex and theologically rich allegory, reflecting his deep understanding of Scripture, human psychology, and spiritual struggle. Bunyan’s works have remained continuously in print for over three centuries. Condition Report Binding: Original leather, firm and intact; gilt remains bright with light edge wear Spine: Raised bands, gilt lettering and tooling clear Pages: Complete; foxing can be found throughout, typical of the period Illustrations: All present and clean Structural integrity: Sound; no loose pages or major faults Overall, a very attractive and well-preserved example of a deluxe mid-Victorian Bunyan. Dimensions: Weight - 415g Height - 16.5cm Width - 11.3cm Thickness - 3cm
Item arrived much better than described and is such a privilege to own, ty as this probably cost you more to send than I paid (honestly, I expected the item to be of much, much poorer quality for the prise!), well packaged and shipped fast. would encourage anyone to buy from this person! A +++
I pressed wrong knob and declined your 1st offer by mistake , so thanks for agreeing same price , it was very decent of you . Kind regards and thanks , waiting for it to be delivered Tomorrow Ann
Beautiful! A piece of history in great condition for being 250 years old. Fast shipping with tracking was very helpful. Very pleased with kind and fast service.
Related products
1867, 1st Ed, GRIMM'S GOBLINS, FAIRY TALES, THE BROTHERS GRIMM, CRUIKSHANK, VG
$ 211.2God Emperor of Dune 1981 Frank Herbert HC DJ Signed By Frank Herbert Good Cond
$ 792.0MY FERN HOLLOW BEDTIME BOOK By John Patience Hardcover BRAND NEW
$ 79.2Warlord of Mars - Edgar Rice Burroughs -Ballantine -Paperback - 1969
$ 2.64