THE PILGRIM'S PROGRESS FROM THIS WORLD TO THAT WHICH IS TO COME; DELIVERED UNDER THE SIMILITUDE OF A DREAM; WHEREIN IS DISCOVERED THE MANNER OF HIS SETTING OUT, HIS DANGEROUS JOURNEY, AND SAFE ARRIVAL AT THE DESIRED COUNTRY. CONTAINING ALSO THE PILGRIMAGE OF HIS WIFE AND CHILDREN, AND THEIR SAFE ARRIVAL. IN THREE PARTS, WITH EXPLANATORY NOTES, EVANGELICAL REFLECTIONS, AND AN ORIGINAL LIFE OF THE AUTHOR, BOUND WITH, THE HOLY WAR, MADE BY KING SHADDAI UPON DIABOLUS. TO WHICH ARE ADDED HEARTS EASE, THE HEAVENLY FOOTMAN, &c. &c.
London, England: John McGowan and Co. (16, Great Windmill Street, Haymarket), 1838. Leather-bound. Octavo. 8 1/4 in. x 5 1/4 in. x + 512 pp. + 6 + 301 pp.
Dark brown diced russia, with gilt chain border to both front and back boards. Smooth calf to spine with seven gilt chain divisions, with title "PILGRIM'S PROGRESS AND HOLY WAR" in second compartment down. Light rubbing to extremities and corners "nudged", but VERY solidly bound. Thick, grey endpapers, stained at outer edges,with Previous owner's "Ex Libris" bookplate to front free endpaper, depicting a rough forest road, through sparse conifers and mountains visible ahead. Name: P. Schultz. 1960.
A lovely three panel illustration (9 1/2 in. x 7 in.) six-color fold-out, entitled "A Plan of the Road from the City of Destruction to the Celestial City adapted to the Pilgrims Progress
Lovely frontis engraving of John Bunyan. Tidemarks to portrait page, but image unaffected. Begins with "The Author's Apology for His Book", telling the "story" of the creation of the book, in verse (see excerpt below)
Three separate title pages, the second of which is "DIVINE EMBLEMS: OR TEMPORAL THINGS SPIRITUALIZED. TO WHICH IS ADDED, A CAUTION, TO WATCH AGAINST SIN. This brief (six-page)
section consists of verse in which the author describes adults acting like children, and asks of his readers not to blame him, for he is only showing them "how each fingle-fangle/On which they dote,does but their souls entangle,/As with a web, a trap, a gin, a snare:/And will destroy them, have they not a care"
Eight full-page engravings throughout,, including the frontis to Part III, as well as a smaller drawing to
the title page to this part (The Holy War).
Just a beautiful book! Very Good. Item #85651
The author begins his "Apology" for the book, thusly:
"When at the first I took my pen in hand,
Thus for to write, I did not understand
That I at all should make a little book
In such a mode: nay, I had undertook
To make another; which, when almost done,
Before I was aware, I this began..."
and finishes:
"...Would'st thou be in a dream,and yet not sleep?
Or would'st thou in a moment laugh and weep?
Or would'st thou lose thyself, and catch no harm?
And find thyself again without a charm?
Would'st read thyself, and read thou know'st not what,
And yet know whether thou art blest, or not,
By reading the samelines? O then come hither,
and Lay my book, thy head, and heart together."
Price: $600.00