FIRST EDITION OF TOPSELL’S THE REWARD OF RELIGION, 1596

TOPSELL, Edward. The Reward of Religion. Delivered in Sundrie Lectures upon the Booke of Ruth, Wherein the Godly May See Their Daily and Outwarde Tryals, with the Presence of God to Assist Them and His Mercies to Recompense Them. London: Printed by John Winder, 1596. Octavo, early blind-tooled speckled brown calf rebacked, brown morocco spine label. $3200.

Very rare first edition of Topsell’s extremely popular late 16th-century collection of lectures about the Book of Ruth.

Perhaps best known for his History of Four-Footed Beasts (1607), Cambridge-graduate and Church of England perpetual curate Edward Topsell was also well-regarded for his religious writings including this one. Focusing on The Book of Ruth, this collection of 17 scholarly lectures offers serious, in-depth textual and religious analysis. This work “proved so popular that a second edition appeared in 1601, and a third in 1613” (DNB). Pollard & Redgrave 24127. Ink owner signature. Faint ink notations on title page and on verso of final leaf of text. Early auction listing for this book attached to flyleaf.

Occasional small paper repairs, including to title page and folding analytical chart of the Book of Ruth, last two leaves of text worn at margins affecting marginal Biblical citations, expected light age-wear to text, light wear to binding. An extremely good copy in handsome, early blind-tooled calf. Rare.