Ralph Erskine | First American edition, printed by Franklin, of this book of religious verse

Ralph Erskine

Gospel Sonnets, or, Spiritual Songs. In Six Parts. London: Printed. Philadelphia: Reprinted and Sold by B. Franklin, in Market Street, 1740

8vo (152 x 98 mm). Typographic ornaments. Toning, spotting, dampstaining, text block trimmed close touching a few catchwords, a few creased or dog-eared corners, paper repairs at the edges of the front flyleaf and title-page, a short tear to leaf F2 at the top edge affecting the headline, small losses to upper corners of leaves I2–3 and O2, a short tear near the gutter at the foot of leaves N7–O2, without the publisher's ad leaf. Early blind-tooled calf, retaining the front flyleaf; expertly rebacked and restored, preserving most of the early boards and spine. Calf folding-case.

The first American edition, stated fifth edition overall, of this popular book of religious verse by Ralph Erskine, printed by Benjamin Franklin.

Only this copy and one lacking six leaves have sold at auction in the past century, per Rare Book Hub, and ESTC lists just five copies in libraries, one of which is significantly incomplete.

REFERENCES

Miller 187; ESTC W24048

PROVENANCE

James Lockwood (signature) — Reverend William Lockwood (signature) — James Ells Junior (note of purchase from William Lockwood, dated 1802) — W. Anna Stark (bookplate with poem) — Christies New York, 4 December 2018, lot 142 (undesignated consignor)