signed first edition
1678 · London
by WALTON, IZAAK
London: Printed for Richard Marriott, 1678. FIRST EDITION. 185 x 110 mm. (7 1/4 x 4 1/4"). [121] leaves, 45, [1] pp., [1] leaf, 47-167, [1] pp., [7] leaves, 169-253, [1] pp., [1] leaf, 255-76 pp. (Bound with the Errata leaf o8.).
Pleasing deep green cross-grained morocco by Sangorski & Sutcliffe, covers gilt-ruled, raised bands, spine with brown morocco labels, all edges gilt. In a watered silk chemise and green morocco lift-off slipcase. Engraved frontispiece portrait of Sanderson by R. White; each section with an attractive woodcut headpiece; decorative initials throughout. INSCRIBED BY THE AUTHOR: "For Mr. John Millington, I. W." Ink corrections in two contemporary hands, some clearly in the hand of the author (see below). Engraved ex-libris of John Gribbel to the front pastedown. Wing W-667, S-607; Pforzheimer 1053; ESTC R8226. â—†Just slightly perceptible wear to front joint, spine top, and corners (though unseen after refurbishment), text apparently pressed and faintly browned, probably because washed (though annotations unaffected, and the leaves still fresh), intermittent minor splashes of foxing, but still a pleasing (and well-presented) copy, the text with nothing approaching a major problem, and the binding still very lustrous, with only negligible signs of use.
Inscribed and corrected in manuscript by the author and with excellent provenance, this is an especially desirable copy of the account of the life of theologian Robert Sanderson, whose "sermons placed him in 'the highest and first rank of English writers.'" (DNB) Sanderson (1587-1663) took orders in 1611, rose rapidly in the church, was appointed a royal chaplain in 1631, and became a favorite of Charles I. The king said of Sanderson, "I carry my ears to hear other preachers, but I carry my conscience to hear [him]." Just as the Civil War was about to break out, he was made professor of Divinity at Oxford, but he was on the wrong side for the moment and thus barred from the post until the Restoration in 1660. Then, shortly after Charles II was restored, Sanderson was named Bishop of Lincoln. The present volume is one of four ecclesiastical biographies by Walton and the last of his five famous "Lives" to be written. With the exception of Hooker, Walton (1593-1683) knew all the subjects of these biographies (Donne, Herbert, Henry Wotton, and Sanderson), and although he attempted to make his biographical accounts factually accurate, he nevertheless "guilelessly transforms his subjects into his own image, that of a staunch, heart-of-oak traditionalist who views men and life with the eyes of an Anglican archbishop." (Day) The present copy is inscribed by the author to John Millington, who was connected to Walton through Anthony Farindon (1598-1658), minister of St. Mary Magdalen, Milk Street (a church Dr. Sanderson is known to have visited). As executor of Farindon's estate, Millington contacted Walton to propose he take up the late minister's unfinished work on the theologian John Hales--a project that Walton evidentially declined. This book was subsequently owned by other notable bibliophiles, including publisher and bookseller William Pickering (1796-1854), appearing as lot 3080 in the sale of his impressive library at Sotheby's in 1854; and then it was owned by American industrialist and philanthropist John Gribbel (1858-1936), appearing as lot 721 in his sale at Parke-Bernet Galleries in 1941. Ink corrections in this copy in Walton's hand are found on b2r, b5v, b7v, c3r, d5v, d8r, h7v, and l1r, all corresponding to the errors listed on the Errata page.. (Inventory #: ST20051)
Pleasing deep green cross-grained morocco by Sangorski & Sutcliffe, covers gilt-ruled, raised bands, spine with brown morocco labels, all edges gilt. In a watered silk chemise and green morocco lift-off slipcase. Engraved frontispiece portrait of Sanderson by R. White; each section with an attractive woodcut headpiece; decorative initials throughout. INSCRIBED BY THE AUTHOR: "For Mr. John Millington, I. W." Ink corrections in two contemporary hands, some clearly in the hand of the author (see below). Engraved ex-libris of John Gribbel to the front pastedown. Wing W-667, S-607; Pforzheimer 1053; ESTC R8226. â—†Just slightly perceptible wear to front joint, spine top, and corners (though unseen after refurbishment), text apparently pressed and faintly browned, probably because washed (though annotations unaffected, and the leaves still fresh), intermittent minor splashes of foxing, but still a pleasing (and well-presented) copy, the text with nothing approaching a major problem, and the binding still very lustrous, with only negligible signs of use.
Inscribed and corrected in manuscript by the author and with excellent provenance, this is an especially desirable copy of the account of the life of theologian Robert Sanderson, whose "sermons placed him in 'the highest and first rank of English writers.'" (DNB) Sanderson (1587-1663) took orders in 1611, rose rapidly in the church, was appointed a royal chaplain in 1631, and became a favorite of Charles I. The king said of Sanderson, "I carry my ears to hear other preachers, but I carry my conscience to hear [him]." Just as the Civil War was about to break out, he was made professor of Divinity at Oxford, but he was on the wrong side for the moment and thus barred from the post until the Restoration in 1660. Then, shortly after Charles II was restored, Sanderson was named Bishop of Lincoln. The present volume is one of four ecclesiastical biographies by Walton and the last of his five famous "Lives" to be written. With the exception of Hooker, Walton (1593-1683) knew all the subjects of these biographies (Donne, Herbert, Henry Wotton, and Sanderson), and although he attempted to make his biographical accounts factually accurate, he nevertheless "guilelessly transforms his subjects into his own image, that of a staunch, heart-of-oak traditionalist who views men and life with the eyes of an Anglican archbishop." (Day) The present copy is inscribed by the author to John Millington, who was connected to Walton through Anthony Farindon (1598-1658), minister of St. Mary Magdalen, Milk Street (a church Dr. Sanderson is known to have visited). As executor of Farindon's estate, Millington contacted Walton to propose he take up the late minister's unfinished work on the theologian John Hales--a project that Walton evidentially declined. This book was subsequently owned by other notable bibliophiles, including publisher and bookseller William Pickering (1796-1854), appearing as lot 3080 in the sale of his impressive library at Sotheby's in 1854; and then it was owned by American industrialist and philanthropist John Gribbel (1858-1936), appearing as lot 721 in his sale at Parke-Bernet Galleries in 1941. Ink corrections in this copy in Walton's hand are found on b2r, b5v, b7v, c3r, d5v, d8r, h7v, and l1r, all corresponding to the errors listed on the Errata page.. (Inventory #: ST20051)
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