Devotion, Ebenezer. [Funeral Sermon for Ephraim Avery, 1754, printed 1755]. Webb, Benjamin. [Funeral Sermon for Ruth Avery, 1732, printed 1733] by [Early American Imprints]. Ebenezer Devotion + Benjamin Webb [Avery Family] - 1733

Boston: Various publishers, 1733. First Edition. Hardcover. Very good. Ad 1: small octavo. 23, [1] pp. (3.75" x 6.75") cut and inlaid to 4to size (7" x 11"). Ad 2: small octavo: [4], 25, [1] pp. (3.75" x 6.75"), cut and inlaid to 4to size (7" x 11"). The half-title page of the first funeral oration has a large restoration, with five words in pen facsimile; the blank verso of the title-page has two small repairs, and p. 6 has one small repair (not affecting text); the second work has been washed. Both Funeral Orations are bound together in nineteenth-century half morocco (by R.W. Smith), marbled paper sides, matching marbled endpapers, gilt spine (refurbished, most noticeably along joints and corner tips). Full Contents: Devotion, Ebenezer: "A Mourning Piece: Being a Discourse Delivered at Brooklyn in Pomfret [Connecticut], October 22, 1754 Delivered at the Funeral of Mr. Ephraim Avery." Boston: J. Draper, 1755. Bound with: WEBB, Benjamin: "The Present Scope and Future Gain of the Christian Life. A Discourse deliver'd at Truroe, October 8, 1732. Occasioned by the much lamented Death of Mrs. Ruth Avery." Boston: [s.n.], 1733

Early American Funeral Sermons for two different members of the Avery family, originally of Massachusetts. Ruth [Little] Avery (1686-1732) was the mother of Ephraim Avery (1713-1754).

Ad 1: This work was described as "scarce" 130 years ago, for which see the sale of the Stevens Historical Collection (Sotheby's 1881, lot 196). Evans 7406; ESTC W28638, with seven copies in five locations worldwide (British Library, AAS, Connecticut Historical Society, Andover Theological Library, Beinecke). Sabin 19830 (conflating the present author with "John Devotion").

Ad 2: Evans 3729; ESTC W7823, with five known copies in four locations worldwide (Boston Atheneum, Boston Public Library, Massachusetts Historical, Library of Congress). The existence of the half-title remained unknown to the editors of ESTC, who give the following collation: [2], 25, [1] pp.

PROVENANCE: "Hannah Cady, 1755, Her Book, the Gift of Her Honored Mother Rachel Cady." -- W.J. Avery, May 7, 1872 -- Leamington Book Shop, Washington, DC (Catalogue 2) 1950 -- The Lincoln Library, Shippensburg, PA.

Both Funeral Orations are scarce: ours appear to be the only copies on the market.