The new week's preparation for a worthy receiving of the Lord's Supper, as recommended and appointed by the Church of England; consisting of meditations and prayers

London: Printed by assignment from the executors of E. Wicksteed for W. Bent, 1785. Hardcover. Very good. 12mo, pp. [6], ix, [1], 156; the first leaf consisting of an approbation on the recto and an engraved frontispiece on the verso; contemporary and probably original black goatskin with decorative gilt border and similar border outlining central panels on the covers, smooth gilt spine with winged cherub heads, a.e.g., green ribbon page maker; minor refurbishment at head and tail of spine. Â

An attractive English binding, possibly made in Brighton (see below). * This edition is not listed ESTC or OCLC and is distinguished by the engraved frontispiece, on the verso the printed appeal by W. Bent dated 1785, warning the public of "surreptitious" counterfeit editions of the present work. Indeed, two similar (but not identical) editions are listed by ESTC; these are recorded in just one or two libraries each. Both editions are reproduced in "Eighteenth Century Collections Online" and ours represents an entirely different setting of type. * THE BINDING: The most extraordinary tools on the present binding are surely the "bat-wing" cherubs that adorn the entire length of the spine, quite distinctive, and yet apparently remain unrecorded. It is very possible that the workshop was provincial (perhaps Brighton?) which accounts for a paltry amount of literature published on the subject. PROVENANCE: Early inscriptions of two women collectors appear on the verso of the first flyleaf: "Sarah Lumsdale, 9 Bloomsbury Place, Brighton" (NB: this house still exists) -- "Mary Cobb, April 11, 1800." * This edition is not to be confused with ESTC T80498 or T80499.