Eric Chaim Kline, Bookseller - Old and Rare Books

The Book of Common Prayer... Together with the Psalter or Psalms of David (1676) [BOUND WITH:] The Whole Book of Psalms. Collected into English Meeter (1677)

(Church of England: Liturgies; Bible; Psalms; English). Sternhold, Thomas; Hopkins, John.

London: Printed by His Ma[jes]ties Printers, 1669. Hardcover. Two works, the first in two parts, small folio (30 by 18.5 cm). [273]; [75] ff. Engraved collective title, separate letterpress title for the Psalms, half-title for The Form and Manner of Making... Bishops [etc.], calendar printed in red and black, printed marginalia; full title for the metrical Psalms, musical scores. Texts in black letter (Gothic). Contemporary reversed calf (suede), expertly rebacked, retaining original backstrip, with new gilt morocco lettering piece. Marginal dampstain and erosion at 20 leaves (with slight loss at fore-margin calendar leaf C4 recto); mild dampstain at top gutter in later leaves; library stamp at bottom margin leaves N2/N3 in the metrical Psalms. Good or better complete copies of both works.

Early edition of what still remains the authoritative version of the Book of Common Prayer, comprising the official liturgy of the Anglican Communion, and other historically related Christian churches. The first prayer book published in the wake of the English Reformation appeared in 1549 during the reign of Edward VI. That work was revised in 1604 during the reign of James I, and again in 1662 during the reign of Charles II. While revision and supplementation has continued into the present era, the 1662 edition (of which the present copy is essentially an early reprint) remains authoritative as the official prayer book of the Church of England.

Despite the discrepancy in dates which appear on the title pages of the present edition, the Book of Common Prayer and the Psalms of David comprise a single publication as noted at the collective title and confirmed by the signatures. The metrical Psalms by Sternhold and Hopkins, often bound with the Book of Common Prayer, is a separate work.

Provenance: Bookplate of the Royal Institution of South Wales, noting the gift of Col. W.L.C. Morgan RE, Bryn Briallu, November 1898. Early owner's entry of "Alice: Jervoise" at top of contents leaf A2.

Signatures: pi1 A-B6 C4 D6 E8 F-Z6 Aa-Xx6 Yy8 (= 273 leaves) / A-M6 N3 (= 75 leaves). Good+. Item #54822

References: ESTC R36533; R172902.

Full titles and imprints: [1, part 1] The Book of Common-Prayer And Administration Of the Sacraments, And Other Rites & Ceremonies Of the Church, According to the Use Of the Church of England, Together with the Psalter or Pslams of David, Pointed as they are to be Sung or Said in Churches: and the Form & Manner of Making, Ordaining, & Consecrating of Bishops, Priests, and Deacons. London: Printed by His Ma[jes]ties Printers Cum Privilegio. MDCLXIX [1, part 2] - The Psalter or Psalms of David, after the Translation of the Great Bible, Pointed as they are to be Sung or Said in Chruches. London, Printed by the Assigns of John Bill and Christopher Barker, Printers to the Kings most Excellent Majesty. Anno Dom. 1676. [2] - The whole Book of Psalms. Collected into English Meeter, By Thomas Sternhold, John Hopkins, and others: Conferred with the Hebrew, with apt Notes to Sing them withall... London, Printed by William Godbid and Andrew Clark, for the Company of Stationers, 1677.

Price: $950.00