The Religion of Nature Delineated by [Wollaston, William (1660-1724)] - 1726

London: Printed for John and Paul Knapton, 1738. xv, [1], 5-219pp, [13]. With an engraved portrait frontispiece. Contemporary gilt-ruled calf, calf lettering-piece. Rubbed, marked, and scored. Near contemporary inked ownership inscription to recto of FFEP, scattered spotting. William Wollaston (1659-1724), English philosophical writer. In retirement, he published The Religion of Nature Delineated (1722), a work of constructive rather than critical deism. As John Orr notes: 'The fact that a seventh edition was issued in the year 1746 indicates something of the popularity and influence of the book'. The work was designed to be an answer to two questions: Is there such a thing as natural religion? and, If there is, what is it? Wollaston starts with the assumption that religion and morality are identical, and labours to show that religion is 'the pursuit of happiness by the practice of truth and reason'. He claims originality for his theory that the moral evil is the practical denial of a… Read More

London: Printed by Samuel Palmer...And Sold by B. Lintot..., 1726. 4to, pp. 219 [220 blank, 221 - 231 Index, 232 blank], engraved vignette of printer on title-page, 5 engraved head- and tail-pieces, newly rebound in quarter calf, marbled boards, raised bands between gilt rules on spine, black morocco label; first three leaves water-stained. This is probably the fourth "edition" of this work, though the pagination and registration is the same as that of the 1725 printing. The work was first published in a "few copies" in 1722 and reprinted in 1724. Benjamin Franklin is generally agreed to have been compositor on the 1725 printing, but it is unlikely that he worked on this 1726 printing.

London: Printed by Samuel Palmer...And Sold by B. Lintot..., 1726. 4to, pp. 219 [220 blank, 221 - 231 Index, 232 blank], engraved vignette of printer on title-page, 5 engraved head- and tail-pieces, contemporary speckled calf; front cover scored, top and base of front joint cracked. This is probably the fourth "edition" of this work, though the pagination and registration is the same as that of the 1725 printing. The work was first published in a "few copies" in 1722 and reprinted in 1724. Benjamin Franklin is generally agreed to have been compositor on the 1725 printing, but it is unlikely that he worked on this 1726 printing.

London: Re-printed... by Sam. Palmer, 1724. Second edition. Hardcover. Very Good. Contemporary morocco; 4to (239x187mm); pp. 218, plus frontispiece portrait of Wollaston. Front board detached. Frontispiece waterstained; early ownership signature on title-page. An excellent candidate for repair or rebinding. Benjamin Franklin worked as a compositor on this volume, the text of which became the inspiration for his own "Dissertation on Liberty and Necessity" (London, 1725). The last 3 lines in the book, beneath the errata, are tempting to ascribe to Franklin himself: "These [errata" are such as were collected in haste, but there are more; primarily in respect of Greek and Hebrew letters, accents, points, &c... it is hoped only such a reader may easily correct or will readily forgive." (Ford, Frankling Bibliography, xv, 3-5).