Apologia Pro Vita Sua: Being A Reply to a Pamphlet entitled “What, Then, Does Dr. Newman mean?”
London: Longman, Green, Longman, Roberts, and Green, 1864. 8vo, contemporary binding, 430pp plus 127p appendix. Bound in red calf over marbleized paper, gilt decorated spine with five raised bands, marbleized endpapers, all edges marbleized. First one volume edition, following the serial publication in seven separate tracts with the “Answer to Mr. Kingsley” published as an appendix. Top leather corner of front board is bumped, showing a depression to the leather. Paper to boards is scuffed and rubbed with faint chipping to edges, a few nicks and bumps to book edges. General fading to spine crown and tail, front board has been restitched and reinforced at spine, rear board starting at spine crown. Ex libris bookplate to front endpaper, pages marginally foxed. Contents clean, binding firm and square. The first uniform edition of Newman’s treatise on the development of his religious opinions, from his origins as an Anglican cleric through to his conversion to the Roman Catholic Church, addressed as a disputation to a Mr. Kingsley. One of the most influential theological and apologetic works of the 19th century, additionally a foundational work of Victorian literature and the Oxford movement. Presented in a deluxe binding, as distinct from the more common brown calf issue and the trade clothbound issue. Presumably a custom or variant binding, issued by the publisher. Marbled pattern differs from brown calf edition. “Gilbert and Rivington, Printers, St. John’s Square, London”, cited to gutter of postscript. A handsome example, scarce. Very Good.
Price: $650.00