"HELD IN THE HIGHEST ESTIMATION": FABER'S THREE-VOLUME ORIGIN OF PAGAN IDOLATRY, 1816 FIRST EDITION
FABER, George Stanley. The Origin of Pagan Idolatry Ascertained from Historical Testimony and Circumstantial Evidence. London: A.J. Valpy for F. and C. Rivingtons, 1816. Three volumes. Quarto, contemporary full brown diced calf gilt, raised bands, red morocco spine labels.
First edition of this study of the origins of polytheism, with engraved frontispieces in each volume and engraved map. Handsome in contemporary diced calf, from the library of the Duke of Northumberland.
Collating evidence from the Old Testament with a wide range of other sources concerning pagan beliefs, practices, and symbolism, the Faber set out to prove that "all mankind were once assembled together in a single community, and that they afterwards spread themselves in detached bodies over the face of the whole earth." "His writings on The Origin of Pagan Idolatry (1816) attempted to demonstrate, mainly through the evidence of the Old Testament, that all pagan nations had worshiped the same gods who, he argued, were in fact men who had been deified by simple people. The origins of their errors stemmed from the Tower of Babel and Noah's three sons" (ODNB). To support his theory, Faber references Moor's Hindu Pantheon, Selden's De diis Syris, and articles from Asiatic Researches. "Now scarce. The works of this eminent divine are held in the highest estimation" (Lowndes). "Le plus considerable de ce savant theologien anglais" (Brunet). With eight-page subscribers list. Brunet II: 1146. Lowndes, 772. Old pencil annotation attesting to the provenance "from the library of the Duke of Northumberland."
Faint offsetting from frontispieces to title pages; text quite clean and fresh. A few minor rubs to contemporary diced calf. A near-fine set, handsomely bound.