Presentation copy to Lord Sidney
An apology for the true Christian divinity, being an explanation and vindication of the principles and doctrines of the people called Quakers...
Birmingham: John Baskerville, 1765. Eighth (first Baskerville) edition in English, (first published Aberdeen, 1676); 4to, pp. [14], [ii]-xiii, 504, [16]; with the errata leaf as part of the preliminaries which is "frequently missing" (Gaskell); original blue paper-covered boards, uncut and partially unopened; neat cream paper rebacking, preserving the original printed paper label, in a red half morocco clamshell box (scuffed); a very good, sound copy. This copy with a very nice inscription: "David Barclay / Grandson of the Author / to Lord Sidney. / In testimony of his respect. / 1789." Thomas Townshend, 1st Viscount Sydney PC (1733-1800), was a British politician who held several important Cabinet posts in the second half of the 18th century. His most enduring legacy is probably that the cities of Sydney in Nova Scotia, and Sydney in Australia were named in his honor, in 1785 and 1788 respectively. Gaskell notes that "no uncut copy has been seen." This copy is uncut and partially unopened. The errata leaf in this copy is on wove paper without an imprint, and was likely printed by Baskerville himself. "Barclay's great book, The Apology, is remarkable as the standard exposition of the principles of his sect, and is not only the first defense of those principles by a man of trained intelligence, but in many respects one of the most impressive theological writings of the century" (DNB). Gaskell 30. Item #48630
Price: $2,500.00
