Doddridge’s Rise and Progress of Religion in the Soul – 1749 First American Printing

Doddridge, P[hilip]. The Rise and Progress of Religion in the Soul : Illustrated in a Course of Serious and Practical Addresses, Suited to Persons of every Character and Circumstance : With A Devout Meditation or Prayer, added to each Chapter. Sixth ed. Boston, N.E.: Printed by Rogers and Fowle for D. Henchman in Cornhill, 1749.

Evans 6305, ETSC W32338

Sixth Ed.. This is the first American edition. Binding: Hardcover (Full Leather). Book Condition: Fair Condition. Item Type: Book.

Pagination: [i]-xii, 4 unnumbered pages, [1]-262 (missing the final leaf of the text with pp. 263-264). Size: 6"-7" - Sextodecimo (16mo).

First American Edition printed from the English Sixth Edition of Doddridge’s best-known and most influential work. He was a Dissenter, pastoring an independent church and establishing an academy for non-Anglican pupils. His friends included Isaac Watts, to whom this work is dedicated (though half of the initial page of that dedication is torn out of this copy). William Wilberforce read this book while on a European tour with Isaac Milner in 1784. Their study of the book and discussions of it was among the influences that led to his conversion

A WorldCat search shows three holdings of this printing (OCLC No. 8901823): Nelson Library at Smith College, Brown University Library and the Tish Library at Tufts University (a fourth listing under that number is an electronic copy from Early American Imprints). ESTC identifies five copies, all in the U.S.: American Antiquarian Society (2 copies), Bostonian Society, Massachusetts Historical Society and the copy at Smith College.

Bound in polished calf over boards. The spine is plain (no compartments) and the binding to the boards is done with two wide cloth cords and is in good shape. The front hinge shows wear but is tight. The rear hinge is split at the bottom 3 1/4", though the cords are holding.

The text block is tight but browned from age. The title page was printed on a sheet that was a bit narrow, so its outside edge does not reach the edge of the rest of the block. It is tattered along the outside edge and has a couple of chips at the bottom edge. The end papers have been removed. The first leaf of the dedication (pp. [iii]-iv) has been torn with only a diagonal fragment along the gutter remaining. There is light foxing and spotting throughout. A tide mark shows up beginning at p. 219 and gets wider and darker to the end of the remaining pages. The final leaf is missing, so the text ends at p. 262 (rather than 264).

There are several ownership inscriptions. On the inside front cover it is marked as "Mary Davis's Book 1789" and E. Bowman" has neatly signed his or her name at the top left corner. On the verso of the title page the inscriptions (in order from top to bottom) are: "Mary Davis's Book 1760," "Polly Butterfield's Book 1790," Presented to Lucy Bowman wife of Chas. Butterfield Bowman [city], N.Y. 1890 by Emmeline Butterfield Bowman." All are in ink but the last, which is in pencil. There is also an owner's inscription on the inside rear cover, but it has been scribbled out with ink. Someone has noted in pencil in the bottom right corner of the title page that the first edtion of this book was in 1745. 

Shipped Weight: 1 lb 0 oz.