Of the Imitation of Jesus Christ, Translated From the Latin Original Ascribed to Thomas A. Kempis

Dibdin, Thomas Frognall

Verlag: William Pickering and John Major, 1828

1828 first edition thus, William Pickering and John Major (London), 5 3/4 x 8 3/4 inches tall full leather bound, five raised bands and gilt decorations / gilt-lettered leather label to spine, all page edges marbled, gilt dentelles framing marbled front and rear endpapers, engraved frontispiece, other large engraved illustrations, clvii, 389 pp. Light soiling and moderate rubbing and edgewear to covers, with a bit of chipping to the lower spine cap. Moderate foxing to frontispiece and title page, with slight offsetting to title page from finely engraved portrait of Christ (by I.H. Robinson, from an original engraving by Pietro Fontana after a painting by Guercino). Otherwise, apart from sporadic light foxing, a very good copy of an important early nineteenth century Anglican edition of this devotional classic, filled with interesting points for the bibliophile, including Dibdin's 15-page list of subscribers, which reads like a who's who of British society of the period, as well as his extensive preface and introduction, occupying one-third of the volume. ~KM5~ Thomas Frognall Dibdin (1776-1847), ordained a clergyman in 1804, though he devoted a great deal of time to religious literature, is probably best remembered today as a bibliographer, and bibliophile, and for his production of handsome - if not always entirely accurate - literary productions. This fault of inaccuracy however was less obtrusive in his series of playful, discursive works in the form of dialogues on his favorite subject, the first of which, 'Bibliomania' (1809), was republished with large additions in 1811, and was very popular, passing through numerous editions. The Imitation of Christ was written by Catholic monk Thomas Kempis (circa 1380-1471), as four separate books completed between 1420 and 1427, at Mount Saint Agnes monastery, in the town of Windesheim, located in what is now the Netherlands. He wrote these works for the instruction of novices of his Augustinian monastic order, followers of Geert Groote's Brethren of the Common Life. But the writings quickly became popular among all the literate faithful. Bestandsnummer des Verkäufers SP29-0622-12721

Bibliografische Details

Titel: Of the Imitation of Jesus Christ, Translated...
Verlag: William Pickering and John Major
Erscheinungsdatum: 1828
Einband: Leather Bound
Zustand: Very Good