Waterfield’s Booksellers

PRIESTLEY (Joseph) A Harmony of the Evangelists in Greek to which are prefixed critical dissertations in English. Printed for J. Johnson, 1777. [and] PRIESTLEY (Joseph) A Harmony of the Evangelists in English; with critical dissertations, an occasional paraphrase, and notes for the use of the unlearned. Printed for J. Johnson, 1780. 4to 2 vols in one. Cont. tree calf, double red and green morocco lettering-pieces: a very good copy.
This form of binding seems typical of those offered in varying formats for bound editions of Priestley advertised by Johnson around 1790. Some copies have a folding map of the Holy Land but there is some question as to whether it was originally so issued. Priestley wrote to Joseph Johnson about the map, requesting that the Sea of Galilee ‘be made a little longer’ on 23 July 1783 which, if the date can be trusted – the letter only survives in a later transcript – is conclusive. The hypothesis of a later issue is certainly borne out by the high number of copies in contemporary bindings lacking the map.
The note above by John Stephens (owner of Waterfield’s until 2006) gives an indication of the scope of his Bibliography of Joseph Priestley which he left almost ready for publication and which will be published at some stage.
£375.00