The Great Importance of a Religious Life Considered . . . from the Twenty-third London Edition. To which are added, Prefatory Observations on the Credibility of the Christian Religion; and a Few Concise Observations on Prayer.
Alexandria [Va.]: Printed by Cottom and Stewart, for Samuel Bishop, 1802. First American edition, with considerable additions. 12mo (6.5 x 4.25 inches), original full calf, red morocco label, gilt rules and lettering, 313, [1] pages. A trifle bumped and worn; some light foxing; a very good copy. Item #20915
A nice imprint from the Irish emigre Alexandria booksellers, John Ainsworth Stewart and Peter Cottom, a representative entry in their year of expanding markets in the face of competition in the area from outsiders like Mathew Carey and Mason Locke Weems; per the Index of Virginia Printing, “Then they took a page out of the Philadelphians’ book by increasing the scale of their imprint production, providing their two stores [in Alexandria and in Fredericksburg] with reprint editions of popular titles at a lesser cost than they could acquire from another publisher. The titles issued were often religious ones, seemingly reflecting Stewart’s influence, but Cottom’s literary inclinations led to publishing songsters and novels as well. In their fifteen years together, they produced an average of about four such imprints a year.” The production here in any case goes beyond mere republication; AAS notes of this edition of Melmoth, “‘Prefatory observations,’ p. [11]-178, containing extracts from Soame Jenyns’ A view of the internal evidence of the Christian religion, William Paley’s A view of the evidences of Christianity, and Robert Hall’s Modern infidelity, were added by the publisher and ‘Entered according to act of Congress.’ Prayers, p. [298]-313, were substituted by the editor for those used by Melmoth in the 1713 and later editions.” American Imprints 2649. Small early printed book label for the Norton Library (with an ink autograph shelfmark to the label) on the front pastedown.
Price: $250.00