Sermons Preach’d Upon Several Occasions. By John Tillotson. London: A.M. for SA: Gellibrand, 1671, 8vo.
-------------------
FIRST EDITION of John Tillotson’s first collection of sermons. The author is almost certainly the most popular 17th-century sermonist, and this, his first collection: eight sermons, apparently preceded by only two individual texts, is surprisingly rare.
-------------------
Provenance:
1. Sr. John Dolben Bart (1684-1756) of Finedon, Northamptonshire, an Anglican divine. His bookplate to the front pastedown and an associated inscription to the head of the title page (‘G Dolben’) dated 1700
2. John Platt of Harborough, his bookplate to the front free endpaper recto
3. F.W. Walter, his inscription to front free endpaper verso
4. Sold in a Maggs catalogue in 1980 (this copy).
-------------------
Size: 115 x 179 mm (approx.)
Condition:
Contemporary full black morocco, boards lined in double-fillet gilt, central panels, attractive repeating gilt motif in spine compartments between raised bands. Binding rubbed, some wear to extremities, shelf and edge wear, but generally very good with both boards securely attached; the binding is secure. Attached bookplates, ownership inscriptions in ink and pencil. Leaf fore edges frayed, more so the first few leaves, some edge tears. Extensive pencil inscription to final leaf of text and the next blank, a small amount of marginal notes elsewhere, including one instance possibly in the author’s hand (pp.33, grammatical correction). Text block mildly toned, some spotting, else generally a well preserved attractive copy.
