Epistles, The first Volume: Conteining two Decads..
London.
Printed by A. H[atfield] for Eleazar Edgar & Samuel Macham, 1608.
First edition.
[12], 190pp, [2]. 'The second decade of epistles' has divisional title page; pagination and register are continuous. Without initial leaf (blank but for signature mark 'A') nor leaf A8 (blank except for rule borders). With terminal leaf, blank except for rule borders. A variant listing Edgar before Macham in the imprint. ESTC S122077, STC 12662.
[Bound with:] HALL, Joseph. Epistles, The second Volume: Conteining two Decads. London. Printed for A. H. for Eleazar Edgar & Samuel Macham, 1608. First edition. [8], 215pp, [1]. ESTC S103632, STC 12663.2.
8vo. Nineteenth century blind-ruled calf-backed marbled paper boards, lettered in gilt to spine. Lightly rubbed and marked, spine sunned. Early pen-trials to title page of second mentioned work, very occasional chipping to margins, scattered spotting.
[Bound with:] HALL, Joseph. Epistles, The second Volume: Conteining two Decads. London. Printed for A. H. for Eleazar Edgar & Samuel Macham, 1608. First edition. [8], 215pp, [1]. ESTC S103632, STC 12663.2.
8vo. Nineteenth century blind-ruled calf-backed marbled paper boards, lettered in gilt to spine. Lightly rubbed and marked, spine sunned. Early pen-trials to title page of second mentioned work, very occasional chipping to margins, scattered spotting.
The first two 'decades' of epistles of Puritan preacher, controversialist, and pre-eminent Jacobean man of letters Joseph Hall (1574-1656).
The letters, uniformly undated, are each addressed to a named public figure, among them the Earl of Essex, Sir Thomas Chaloner, and members of the circle of Prince Henry to who the first volume is dedicated. They treat on a diverse variety of subjects including liturgy, miracle, duelling, Protestant separatists in Holland, trade with the Turks, and personal reminiscences of travels on the Continent.
In his prefatory remarks, Hall defends his literary endeavour: 'your Grace shall herein perceive a new fashion of discourse by Epistles; new to our language, usuall to others: and (as Noueltie is never without some plea of use) more free, more familiar. Thus we do but talke with our friends by our pen, and expresse our selves no whit lesse easilie; some-what more digestedlie'.
Hall remained the sole English author to publish his correspondence in his native language until historian James Howell (1594?-1666) issued his Epistolae Ho-Elianae. Familiar letters domestic and forren in 1645. A third and final volume appeared in 1611.
£ 1,250.00
Antiquates Ref: 29100
The letters, uniformly undated, are each addressed to a named public figure, among them the Earl of Essex, Sir Thomas Chaloner, and members of the circle of Prince Henry to who the first volume is dedicated. They treat on a diverse variety of subjects including liturgy, miracle, duelling, Protestant separatists in Holland, trade with the Turks, and personal reminiscences of travels on the Continent.
In his prefatory remarks, Hall defends his literary endeavour: 'your Grace shall herein perceive a new fashion of discourse by Epistles; new to our language, usuall to others: and (as Noueltie is never without some plea of use) more free, more familiar. Thus we do but talke with our friends by our pen, and expresse our selves no whit lesse easilie; some-what more digestedlie'.
Hall remained the sole English author to publish his correspondence in his native language until historian James Howell (1594?-1666) issued his Epistolae Ho-Elianae. Familiar letters domestic and forren in 1645. A third and final volume appeared in 1611.
