J. 72
Priestley’s history of the early opinions concerning Jesus Christ.
4. v.
8
vo.
1815 Catalogue, page 67. no. 94, as above.
PRIESTLEY,
Joseph.
An History of early opinions concerning Jesus Christ, compiled from Original Writers; proving that the Christian Church was
at first Unitarian. By Joseph Priestley, LL.D. F.R.S. . . . Vol. I [-IV].
Birmingham: Printed for the author, by
Pearson and Rollason, and sold by
J. Johnson,
London,
1736.
BT200 .P8
First Edition. 4 vol. 8vo. Vol. I, 217 leaves, engraved folded
Biographical Chart as frontispiece; vol. II, 229 leaves; vol. III, 226 leaves; vol. IV, 218 leaves; errata slip inserted in each volume: at
the end of vol. IV is
An Account of the Editions of the Ancient Writers quoted in this work, and a
Catalogue of Books written by Dr. Priestley.
Lowndes IV, 1966.
Fulton and Peters, page 12.
Rebound in half red morocco by the Library of Congress. Initialled by Jefferson at sig. I and T in each volume. Small corrections by Jefferson occur, and in vol. II, page 427, he has written a footnote:
see Buchanan’s Christian researches in Asia, that the disputed passage in 1. John V. 7. is in no copy of the Syriac scriptures
he had ever seen, & particularly not in the copy presented him which has been preserved in their church more than 1000. years.
yet, says Buchanan, ‘I believe the passage to be genuine’ or, in other words, the mystery of the trinity is too important
to make ours a Craft to be given up. pa. 168.
Purchased from
N. G. Dufief. Ordered by Jefferson on May 5, 1803, sent by Dufief on May 19.
For a reference by Jefferson to this book see no. 1525 above.
Claudius Buchanan, 1716-1815, was a chaplain in Bengal and vice-provost of the College of Fort William. His Christian Researches in Asia was first printed in Cambridge, England, in 1811, so that Jefferson’s note in Priestley’s book must have been written after that date.
[1527]
J. 73
Priestley’s doctrines of Heathenism and revelñ compared, 8
vo
1815 Catalogue, page 67, no. 96, as above.
PRIESTLEY,
Joseph.
The Doctrines of Heathen Philosophy, compared with those of Revelation[.] By Joseph Priestley, L.L.D. F.R.S.
Northumberland: Printed by
John Binns,
1804. [Copy-Right secured.]
BR128 .A2 P8
First Edition. 8vo. 152 leaves.
Not in Sabin.
Fulton & Peters, page 8.
Old calf, ornamental gilt borders, back badly burnt, marbled endpapers. Initialled by Jefferson at sig. I. With the Library
of Congress 1815 bookplate.
Presentation copy to Jefferson from the author’s son who wrote from Northumberland on December 20, 1804: “I have desired Mr. Patrick Byrne bookseller of P
a to send you a copy of my father’s last work, entitled
The Doctrines of Heathen Philosophy compared with Revelation of which I beg your acceptance. The wish you expressed in your letter to Mr. Cooper has been complied with, but in Philadelphia, two or three persons asked me whether my father had not left behind
him a work undertaken at your suggestion, & they informed me that they understood that to be the case from a Mr. Smith, I
believe the Marshall at P
a, who had heard so at Washington . . .”
Jefferson replied from Washington on December 27: “
Your favor of the 20
th. came to hand last night and I shall recieve and read with great satisfaction the last work of your father as I have done
whatever came from his pen. that he undertook the work at my request I have no objection to have known. my wish was confined
to the suppression of the Syllabus I sent him, until the political passions which have been kindled against me shall be so
far subsided as to admit
”
