Religio Bibliopolae.: The Religion of a Bookseller. After the Manner of the Religio Medici, by the Late Ingenious and Learned Sir Thomas Browne, M.D.
London: C. Corbett, 1740. Reissue. Hard Cover. Very Good / No Jacket. Item #2305747
No publication date, circa 1740 according to ESTC T110556. Rebound in green cloth with gilt titles and new end sheets and flyleaves by Mutual Library Bindery, Inc. in 1959 (their stamp on rear flyleaf). It appears the work, which was probably initially issued in wrappers, had already been rebound once with new marbled endpapers, which have been retained and appear inside the new flyleaves. Ink name on title page, minimal pencil marginalia.
2, [1]-84 pp., with numerous blank leaves bound in following text. Originally published under the name Benjamin Bridgewater in 1691, but attributed to John Dunton, who collaborated with Bridgewater on the work. Among the first of a number of works imitating Thomas Browne's popular Religio Medici. Dunton also wrote several other works, but is most notable for his reputation as a rather unscrupulous bookseller, and for publishing the first major popular periodical in England (The Athenian Mercury, 1690-1697), as well as the first periodical (The Ladies' Mercury, 1693) and the first dictionary (The Ladies' Dictionary, 1694) designed specifically for women. Religio Bibliopolae provides some important accounts of the book trade and publishing during Dunton's lifetime.
Price: $400.00