London, W. Bowyer, 1721
Charles Leslie, a non-juror, was, perhaps the most important Anglican theologian of his period. He contended with deists, Roman Catholics and every form of heresy in a lively, but closely reasoned style, winning the praise of Dr. Johnston.
2 volumes. Folio (35.5x21.5 cm), iv+812 pages and iv+884 pages respectively. Generally a very crisp copy.
A little marking and creasing to the title page of volume 1, very occasional light spots of foxing and a slight dustiness to the top margin, the surface of the pages slightly ‘wavy’, a few pages towards the end of the volume lightly browned and a small hole in the margin of one page, not touching the text.
Volume 2: generally crisp and clean: the title page slightly browned, a little occasional light foxing and, again, the pages slightly ‘wavy’. Some pages toward rear of volume 2 with light, even browning and the last 15 or so pages of volume 2 rather more browned, not effecting legibility. The endpapers of both volumes, which have some marks, have a round ink stamp in the top corner. This copy does not have the portrait of Leslie.
Bound with tan leather spine and corners, the boards covered in marbled paper. The spines restored with new leather at some date, but sympathetically: the title etc. on contrasting black leather labels. The binding rubbed in places, but handsome. The edges of the pages, when the book is closed, marbled in a pattern close to that on the boards: this marbling with some signs of wear and rather darkened on the top edge.